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On 12 December 2024, the FLECSLAB project team, in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee, organised a policy workshop in Brussels on “Bridging the gap between science and lifelong learning - the EUTOPIA FLECSLAB case”.

The FLECSLAB project team presented the most important results and discussed the next steps with the main players in the field of lifelong learning at universities. The FLECSLAB experience was translated into policy guidelines for academics, industry and public sector partners. Resources to support university practitioners and policy makers in developing lifelong learning pedagogies (the Lifelong Learning Toolbox) and sustainable provision (the Lifelong Learning Business Model) were also presented.

Firstly, Nicoletta Merlo, Head of youth policies, CISL, explained the importance and relevance of the content.

Secondly, Jo Angouri explained how connected learning creates the conditions for LLL, followed by Rosette S’Jegers who presented the case of EUTOPIA communities as a test bed for LLL. The FLECSLAB panel was moderated by Karin Vanderkerken, vice-rector internationalisation Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

The main output of the project was prepared by Christopher Tulloch, who presented the toolkit with guidelines for academics and public sector partners in lifelong learning and the LLL toolbox with specialised instruments for higher education institutions open to non-modal learners.

Ivan Svetlik presented a business model for lifelong learning based on three identified ecosystems created as sustainable academic offerings in collaboration with stakeholders.

This was followed by two panel discussions, the first of which was chaired by Brikena Xhomaqi, Director of the Lifelong Learning Platform. The panellists who expressed their views on the challenges of lifelong learning were Wim Gabriels, Director of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Angelova Nora, President BELGIUM European Student Union (ESU) and member of the EEA Executive Committee, Gina Ebner, Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and Patrice Chazerand, Digital Europea. The second panel discussion on the European policy context was chaired by Jo Angouri and discussed with the panellists: Koen Nomden, Head of Sector DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission, Michael Gaebel, European Association of Universities (EUA) and Jakub Grodecki, Policy and Project Manager, European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE).

The event concluded with reflections on the next steps.