European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

Adult education must be considered as part of the system of continuing training or lifelong learning. According to the 2006 Education Act, one of the core objectives of adult education is to develop the ability of adults to participate in the social, cultural, political and economic life, and to effectively exercise their right to democratic citizenship.

As regards social knowledge, education at this stage proposes the objective of ‘identifying and locating European states, the most relevant countries and the most important geo-economic and cultural areas in the world’.

The contents studied in these programmes focus mainly on Spain, but also deal with Europe and the rest of the continents. To be more specific, the curriculum includes an analysis of the process of construction of the European Union and of the presence of Spain in the European context, in order to address current socio-economic and political issues, as well as the role played by Spain in other international bodies.

Partnerships and networks

Within the framework of the Eramus+ Programme there is Key Action 1 (KA1) which includes opportunities for adult learners' mobility. Two types of projects can be applied for under this Action:

• Accreditation scheme: open only to organisations with an Erasmus accreditation in the field of adult education;
• Short-term projects for learner and staff mobility offer applicant organisations the opportunity to organise various mobility activities over a period of between 6 and 18 months.

Main objectives:

• to strengthen the European dimension of teaching and learning;
• to promote the values of inclusion and diversity, tolerance and democratic participation;
• to support the development of professional networks throughout Europe;
• to improve the quality of formal, non-formal and informal adult education in Europe in terms of key competences;
• to broaden and diversify adult education provision through the professionalisation of educators and the development of adult education providers' capacity;
• to increase the participation of adults of all ages and from all socio-economic backgrounds in adult education.

Available formulas:

• Staff mobility: 
  • shadowing (2 to 60 days);
  • teaching or training placements (2 to 365 days);
  • courses and training (2 to 30 days, maximum 10 days of course fees per participant).
• Student mobility:
  • group mobility for adult learners (2 to 30 days, at least 2 learners per group);
  • individual educational mobility for adult learners (2 to 30 days).