On this page, our readers will be presented with relevant information about the so-called Grundtvig Programme, which was part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013. In the following sections, you will learn more about the aim of this programme. We will also list some of the most important projects of the Grundtvig Programme.
What Exactly Is the Grundtvig Programme?
We believe that not many people have heard of the Grundtvig Programme, which is why today, we will do our best to explain this topic in more detail. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the Grundtvig Programme was part of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013, which was, in fact, part of the European Commission. The aim of the funding programme was to strengthen Europe’s role in adult education.
It was designed to help adults update their competence when it comes to education. It was accessible to everyone. According to the rules of the programme, a person who was older than 25 was considered an adult. Nevertheless, younger individuals between the ages of 16 and 24, who are no longer in initial education could also participate in the programme.
Many may think that the Grundtvig Programme was only for academics. However, that’s not the case at all. In fact, it was open to teachers, community groups, and instructors from various organisations. The funding programme surrounded many different types of learning, including formal education systems, collaborative and experiential learning, as well as autonomous learning, which is a special approach that allows students to regulate their own learning activities. The Grundtvig Programme has funded a range of educational activities, such as:
- Arts
- Language learning
- Culture
- Parental Education
- Basic Skills
Although all these types of projects are aimed at different things, they had one thing in common. Absolutely every project in the Grundtvig Programme involved working with partners from Europe. It is an interesting fact that the name of this programme was inspired by the Danish teacher and philosopher Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig. He was a firm believer in the idea that one of the best ways for a person to learn is to live.
The Benefits Associated with the Grundtvig Programme and Some of Its More Successful Projects
The education programme was launched in 2000. From the very beginning, the programme attracted a lot of attention because many people were fascinated by its ideas. After all, it was not only supposed to help people increase their knowledge in a certain field, but also contribute to their personal and professional growth, thanks to the newly acquired skills. It was assumed that the programme would contribute to a rapid decline in the number of unemployed people.
One of the reasons why so many people have difficulty finding a job is that they lack basic skills in certain areas. The aim of the Grundtvig Programme was to help individuals gain the necessary knowledge in these respective fields. The alternative education courses funded by the programme were a good way for adults to get a better education.
Not only this, but the Grundtvig Programme financed many travel projects which aim was to support adult learning. Participants got the opportunity to visit different European countries and gain more knowledge thanks to different types of learning experiences. By virtue of such similar projects, the number of individuals in adult education at home or abroad increased to 25,000 in 2013.
In addition to this, the programme has contributed to a huge increase in the number of adult people learning innovative management practices. It has also supported countless ICT or Information and Communication Technology practices and services for adult learners. Some of the most successful and popular projects of the Grundtvig Programme are:
- Let’s Do It Creatively … For The Benefit of Adult Learners
- JoyAR: Joyful Adult Training Using Augmented Reality
- Adult Literacy: Grundtvig Adult Literacy from Creating Joyful Learning Experience into Active Citizenship
The programme was of great benefit to both students and teachers. The reason being is that it focused on alternative teaching and learning methods, which made the whole process much more convenient. This is certainly one of the reasons for the sharp increase in the number of adult learners in recent years. Another thing that can be considered a crucial advantage is the fact that, as mentioned earlier, the number of unemployed has decreased immensely. As we all know, this is a major problem in many countries all around the world.
Final Words
The objective of the programme was to promote lifelong, quality education for adults. Nonetheless, this goal was also linked to the aim of making European education systems much more efficient. As can be seen from the text above, the Grundtvig Programme has contributed to many positive changes, and the majority of its projects have had a massive impact on education.