The Mutual Learning Workshops are a series of two capacity-building events to support Member States in the implementation of the Upskilling Pathways Recommendation to support low-skilled adults in Europe. It aims to build up national networks in each participating country/region.

The first edition of these Workshops was held in 2017/2018 with the participation of Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain. The edition 2018/2019 was attended by Belgium (French-speaking community and Flanders), the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia.

Each delegation was led by representatives of Education and/or Employment ministries and composed of other key stakeholders such as adult learning providers, public employment services, social partners and European Social Funds managing authorities and supported by an independent country expert.

In the first workshop in Bratislava delegations deepened their knowledge and ownership on Upskilling Pathways. The second workshop in Brussels, hosted by Cité des Métiers, was the opportunity to go a step further. Delegations had the opportunity to

• analyse a number of  tools and initiatives related to Upskilling Pathways steps (skills assessments, tailored learning, validation of learning outcomes) and key enabling conditions (outreach, guidance, partnership approach)
• hear about relevant EU-funded projects to feed in their reflection
• build synergies with other important initiatives, for instance the work undertaken by National Coordinators for the European agenda on adult learning
• and, most importantly, to reflect on their national/regional situation in relation to the challenge of low levels of basic skills, and refine a list of concrete actions to set in motion in the months to come.

The Mutual Learning Workshops are not the only way through which the European Commission supports the implementation of Upskilling Pathways. To make Upskilling Pathways a reality, the Commission also works on the implementation of numerous:

• policy frameworks: European Agenda for Adult Learning, Copenhagen process
• initiatives: New Skills Agenda
• processes: European Semester
• and tools: European Qualifications Framework, Europass

Several EU funding strands can also be harnessed such as the EaSi programme, Erasmus+, the European Social Fund or the Structural Reform Support Services.

Background

The Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways was adopted by the Council in December 2016. It aims to help adults acquire a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and digital skills and/or acquire a broader set of skills by progressing towards an upper secondary qualification or equivalent (level 3 or 4 in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) depending on national circumstances).

Based on information provided by the Member States, the Commission published in February 2019 a staff working document taking stock of their implementation plans and progress.