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Alda Bernardes holds a PhD in Education from the University of Lisbon, specialising in adult education. She also holds a master’s degree in Labour Sciences from the University Institute of Lisbon and a degree in Educational Sciences, with a focus on adult education.
She has more than 25 years of experience in human resources, training and adult education in large companies. Since 2020, she has led and developed the Education Area at El Corte Inglés Portugal, where she introduced a workplace learning approach focused on basic skills, inclusion and lifelong learning.
Her work focuses on bringing education closer to adults in the workplace, particularly those with lower levels of qualification, and on promoting access to learning, certification pathways and participation. She has also taught in higher education and collaborates as an external expert in European education and training programmes, including Erasmus+.
At the EBSN Annual Conference 2026, she will contribute to a parallel session on basic skills development, inclusion and educational pathways in the workplace.

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🔴 Basic Skills in the Workplace: Reaching the Unreached through Proximity and Active Engagement

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Alda Bernardes | Head of Education Area, El Corte Inglés Portugal

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Alex Stevenson is Deputy Director at the Learning and Work Institute in the UK, where his work focuses on essential adult skills, including literacy, numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), digital skills and the role of technology in adult learning.
He has extensive experience in policy research and development, including work for public authorities on adult skills, English language learning, remote and blended learning, and the use of technology to support learning providers and practitioners. Alex has also contributed to European adult learning cooperation, including through his previous role on the Executive Board of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA).
Within EBSN, Alex serves as Chair of the Executive Committee and contributes to the network’s strategic dialogue on adult basic skills policy, digital transformation, inclusion and professional practice.

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🔴 Supporting adults’ holistic literacy needs through emerging technologies

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Alex Stevenson | Learning and Work Institute (UK); Chair of the EBSN Executive Committee

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⚪ Panel Discussion - Balancing Work, Life and Democratic Participation: Priorities for Basic Skills Systems

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Alice Vieira is a PhD student in Linguistics at NOVA University Lisbon and a research fellow in the MultiPoD project – Multilingual and Multicultural Spaces of Political Deliberation – at the Research Centre for Linguistics at NOVA University Lisbon (CLUNL).
Her research interests include multilingual communication, inclusion and the linguistic conditions that support participation in public and political deliberation. She previously held a research grant within the CLUNL EXPRIMI project, where she developed her master’s research on text mining for the detection of linguistic traits of inclusiveness, with a focus on texts used in the reception and integration of migrant people.
At the conference, she will contribute to the discussion on how basic skills can support inclusive political deliberation and participation.

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🟤 The role of basic skills in inclusive political deliberation: unlocking
participation in the MultiPoD project

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Alice Vieira | NOVA University Lisbon / CLUNL

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Ana Margarida Nascimento has a bachelor in Educational Sciences, a master’s degree in Adult Education and Training, and a PhD in Educational Policy and Administration, from the University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Ana has extensive research experience. At IPS, Ana is part of the Correctional Staff Training & Development team.
She is one of the PROMOTE project representatives in Portugal.
At the EBSN Annual Conference 2026, she will lead a parallel session presenting insights from the PROMOTE project, with a focus on strengthening implementation capacity for reintegration.

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🟢 Strengthening Implementation Capacity for Reintegration: Insights from the PROMOTE Project

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Ana David | Consultant & Researcher, Innovative Prison Systems

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Ana Lídia Pereira is a PhD student in Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto. Her work focuses on adult education, particularly in vulnerable social contexts.
She is also a research fellow at the Polytechnic University of Porto, where she contributes to the Capacitar para o Futuro project, hosted by the Observatory of Adult Competencies. The project examines the relationship between age, skills use and proficiency among young adults.
At the conference, she will present insights from PIAAC’s Employer Module, focusing on skill gaps and training provision in times of social, economic and labour market change.

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🟢 Skill gaps and training provision in times of change: insights from PIAAC’s Employer Module

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Ana Lídia Pereira | Polytechnic University of Porto / Observatory of Adult Competencies

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He is a Professor at the School of Education of the Polytechnic University of Porto and an integrated researcher at the Centre for Research and Innovation in Education (inED). He also collaborates with the Institute of Sociology of the University of Porto (IS-UP). Between 2019 and 2024, he was the Deputy National Project Manager of OECD's PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) in Portugal. He is a member of the Installation Committee of the Observatory of Adult Competencies of the Polytechnic University of Porto.

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🟢 Skill gaps and training provision in times of change: insights from PIAAC’s Employer Module

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João Queirós | Sociologist, School of Education of the Polytechnic University of Porto

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Prof. Dr. Anke Grotlüschen is Professor for Lifelong Learning at the University of Hamburg. Her work focuses on adult education, literacy and basic skills, lifelong learning, educational monitoring and the social and political dimensions of adult learning.
She was responsible for two major Level-One / LEO studies in Germany, which contributed to the development of the national literacy strategy and the German National Decade for Literacy and Basic Education. She is also involved in the scientific board of the AlphaDekade. Her research has engaged extensively with literacy, numeracy and PIAAC data, with particular attention to adults with low basic skills and the implications for policy and practice.
At the conference, she will address the relationship between basic skills, literacy and democratic resilience in times of social and technological transformation.

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⚪ Basic Skills, Literacy and Democratic Resilience in Times of Transformation

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Anke Grotlüschen | University of Hamburg

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Antra Carlsen is Head Coordinator of the Nordic Network for Lifelong Learning (NLL), which works according to priorities set by the Nordic governments through the Nordic Council of Ministers. NLL supports lifelong learning policy and practice development across the five Nordic countries and three self-governing areas through networks, working groups, transnational workshops, meetings, conferences and information activities.
Antra has extensive experience in adult education and lifelong learning in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Her work involves partnership-building and cooperation across sectors, including adult learning providers, social partners, researchers and public authorities. NLL’s thematic work includes competence development for educators, validation of prior learning, basic skills development, digital inclusion and guidance.
At the conference, she will contribute to discussions on digital integration, inclusion and equal participation in changing societies.

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🟤 Digital integration – a key to ensuring equal participation

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Antra Carlsen | Nordic Network for Lifelong Learning (NLL)

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⚪ Panel Discussion - Balancing Work, Life and Democratic Participation: Priorities for Basic Skills Systems

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Arianna Noera is an EU project consultant and project manager with international experience in education, skills development and social inclusion. At CEIPES ETS, she contributes to European cooperation projects that promote inclusive education, digital innovation and capacity-building.
Her work focuses on training design, innovative learning tools and competency-based approaches. She has also contributed to professional discussions on micro-credentials, including their potential to improve recognition, flexibility and accessibility in lifelong learning.
At the conference, she will co-present the Italian perspective on micro-credentials and their role in supporting basic skills development, upskilling pathways and progression opportunities in a changing labour market.

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🔴 Micro-credentials for Basic Skills in a Changing Labour Market: From the Italian Experience to a European Perspective

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Armelle Desabaye-Nourry is Regional Coordinator for Pays de la Loire at the French National Agency to Fight Illiteracy (ANLCI), where she is responsible for supporting the implementation of national priorities to prevent and combat illiteracy at regional level.
She holds a master’s degree in adult education and has worked in the field of illiteracy and adult learning for more than 20 years. Before joining ANLCI in 2004, she worked as a teacher with adults with disabilities. At ANLCI, she has held national and regional coordination roles, with a focus on partnership development, regional strategies, accessibility, universal communication and access to basic skills for adults facing literacy challenges.
At the conference, she will contribute to the discussion on how national and local data can support more targeted policies and actions for adults with basic skills needs.

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🟢 Knowing adults facing difficulties with basic skills at the heart of national and local data

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Armelle Desabaye-Nourry | French National Agency to Fight Illiteracy, ANLCI 

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⚪ Panel discussion – From evidence to public understanding, policy design and implementation capacity

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Caroline Meier is an expert in basic skills learning with more than ten years of experience in national and international projects. She works with the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning / SVEB, the national umbrella organisation for adult education in Switzerland.
Her work focuses on the promotion of basic skills, the professionalisation of trainers and cooperation across networks in the adult learning field. She also brings many years of experience in NGO management and stakeholder cooperation. Caroline has been a member of the EBSN Executive Committee since 2025.

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Caroline Meier | Moderator of parallel sessions, Swiss Federation for Adult Learning / SVEB

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Damian Fäh is a certified education and training manager with seven years of experience in various fields of adult education. He is currently an innovation manager and product developer for Flying Teachers in the fields of basic skills provision, German as a second language and teacher-training. In this function, he is involved, as a consultant, in the modernization of the fide teacher-training modules, the subject of his presentation at this year’s conference. He is also an active teacher-trainer in EUROLTA, SVEB and fide certificate courses, and in basic skills trainings focusing on digital literacy. Before his current position, he managed an integration program for adult refugees, where he developed content, curricula and quality management processes for German, intercultural competence and job-application training and also worked as a trainer in these subjects. 

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⚪ Moderated discussion – Human-centred transformation: implications for adult basic skills systems
Audience questions and reflections on democratic participation, inclusion, digital change and lifelong learning

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Damian Fäh | Flying Teachers, Member of the EBSN Executive Committee

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Daniela Ermini is a Research Officer at INDIRE, the Italian National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research. Her work focuses in particular on the Erasmus+ programme, with a specialisation in adult education and European cooperation in the adult learning field.
She contributes to international research and development activities on the impact of Erasmus+ and is also involved in EPALE, the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe, where she supports editorial work, content development and the visibility of adult learning practices.
At the conference, she will contribute to discussions on critical thinking in adult basic skills and on how EPALE can help connect fragmented practices, support knowledge exchange and strengthen the visibility of adult basic skills across Europe.

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🔴 Making Critical Thinking Teachable: A Dialogue-Based Approach to Adult Basic Skills 

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Daniela Ermini | INDIRE – National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research / EPALE Italy

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🟤 From Fragmented Practices to Scalable Impact: EPALE as a Lever for Connecting Adult Basic Skills across Europe 

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Dina Paulino is Principal of the Alvalade School Cluster in Lisbon. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Sciences, specialising in Curriculum Development and Assessment, and postgraduate qualifications in Educational Administration and child and youth protection systems.
She has more than 26 years of experience in public education, including teaching, teacher training and leadership roles in national education and health promotion projects. She has also worked at the Directorate-General for Education, contributing to national initiatives on educational success, citizenship, inclusion and student well-being.
Since September 2024, she has led the Alvalade School Cluster, with a focus on educational quality, inclusion, well-being, democratic participation and pedagogical innovation. 
As part of the pre-conference visit, she will present the local educational context and the role of the school cluster in supporting adult guidance and learning pathways.

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⚪ Introduction to the Portuguese Qualifica approach and the Qualifica Centre of Agrupamento de Escolas de Alvalade

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Dina Soeiro is Professor at Coimbra Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, where she teaches adult education and educational gerontology, using a service-learning approach.
She is a founding member of the European Literacy Network and a Board Member of APCEP – the Portuguese Association for Culture and Permanent Education. She plays an active role in promoting lifelong learning, adult education and adult literacy on the Portuguese policy agenda.
Dina is also Coordinator of Letras Prá Vida, an adult literacy community-based project recognised with the EAEA Grundtvig Award in 2017. The project combines community intervention, applied research, training, community of practice and policy work, and promotes literacy, family literacy, critical digital literacy, empowerment and social inclusion.
At the conference, she will contribute to discussions on literacy, ageing, democracy and participation in Portugal.

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🟤 Too Old to Matter? Literacy, Ageing, and Democracy in Portugal

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Dina Soeiro | Polytechnic University of Coimbra / Coimbra Education School

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⚪ Panel Discussion - Balancing Work, Life and Democratic Participation: Priorities for Basic Skills Systems

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Ellen van den Broek is a senior advisor at CINOP, a Dutch organisation working in the field of learning and development. Her work focuses on basic skills in secondary, vocational and adult education, with particular attention to policymaking, teacher professionalisation and lifelong learning.
She holds a PhD in foreign language curriculum change and has a background as an educational publisher. Ellen is also involved in EPALE Netherlands, contributing to professional exchange and knowledge-sharing in the adult learning field.
At the conference, she will co-present on how lifelong learning systems can become more accessible and sustainable for adults with lower basic skills, drawing on recent research and policy discussions in the Netherlands.

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🟢 Rethinking systems for inclusion: Making lifelong learning accessible for adults with lower basic skills

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Famke de Boer is a researcher at ECBO, the Centre of Expertise in Vocational Education in the Netherlands. Her work focuses on basic skills in vocational and adult education, as well as on lifelong learning and professional exchange in the adult learning field.
She is also involved in EPALE Netherlands, where she contributes to events and workshops on basic skills, lifelong learning and related adult education topics. Famke has a background in cultural anthropology and holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree at the intersection of education and society.
At the conference, she will co-present on how lifelong learning systems can become more accessible and sustainable for adults with lower basic skills, drawing on Dutch research and policy discussions.

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🟢 Rethinking systems for inclusion: Making lifelong learning accessible for adults with lower basic skills

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Federica Purpura is a Project Manager at CEIPES ETS, specialising in European cooperation projects in the fields of education, skills development and social inclusion. She holds an Erasmus Mundus master’s degree in European Politics and Society.
She has experience in designing and managing projects funded through EU programmes such as Erasmus+, AMIF and CERV. Her work focuses particularly on upskilling pathways, non-formal education, inclusive learning approaches and the development of micro-credentials to support skills recognition and employability.
At the conference, she will co-present the Italian perspective on micro-credentials and their potential role in supporting basic skills development, upskilling pathways and progression opportunities in a changing labour market.

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🔴 Micro-credentials for Basic Skills in a Changing Labour Market: From the Italian Experience to a European Perspective

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Francesca Faienza works at INDIRE, the Italian National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research, where she is involved in the National Programme “School and Skills” 2021–2027 and in research activities related to teaching, pedagogies and skills.
She has a background in law, international trade law and mediation, and contributes to the PATHS project – A Philosophical Approach to Thinking Skills. Within PATHS, her work is connected to the development of critical thinking, ethical dilemmas, dialogue-based learning and educational resources that support reflective judgement and participation.
At the conference, she will co-present how critical thinking can be made more visible and teachable as part of adult basic skills provision, using dialogue-based and participatory approaches.

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🔴 Making Critical Thinking Teachable: A Dialogue-Based Approach to Adult Basic Skills

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Francesca Faienza | INDIRE – National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research

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⚪ Panel Discussion - Balancing Work, Life and Democratic Participation: Priorities for Basic Skills Systems

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Gina Ebner is Deputy Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), where she works on European adult learning policy, advocacy, cooperation and the strengthening of adult education structures across Europe.
Her professional background includes language training, pedagogical management in vocational training, project management in Brussels and many years of leadership in European adult learning. She has worked on issues such as outreach, validation, life skills, gender equality, participation and the wider benefits of lifelong learning.
At the conference, she will co-present on how emerging technologies can support adults’ holistic literacy needs, reflecting on the opportunities and challenges that digital transformation creates for adult basic skills provision.

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🔴 Supporting adults’ holistic literacy needs through emerging technologies

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Gina Ebner | European Association for the Education of Adults

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Györgyi Csendes is an adult learning consultant and development expert with extensive experience in adult basic skills, workplace learning, digital skills development and professional development for adult educators.
She has contributed to several major initiatives in the adult learning field, including the adaptation and implementation of the Swiss GO model for workplace basic skills development in Hungary, the creation and operation of the Hungarian Network of Open Learning Centres, and the development of basic skills and digital skills programmes for adult learners.
Within EBSN, she has been closely involved in the Professional Development Series, contributing to train-the-trainer MOOC and OER content development, online facilitation of pilot training and quality assurance of learning materials.

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Györgyi Csendes | Moderator of parallel sessions, EBSN Team

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Jana Wälchli is responsible for further education at the Swiss Umbrella Association for Reading and Writing. She works in the organisation’s Department of Didactics and Digitalisation and is part of the project group for DigBib, a digital learning platform supporting basic skills courses.
She holds a master’s degree in Educational Sciences, with a focus on adult education. Before joining her current organisation, she worked for several years as an adult educator for general education subjects at a higher vocational school and as a research assistant.
At the conference, she will present practical reflections from the DigBib project on digital basic competencies, tutor expectations and the question of what “easy enough” means when designing digital learning materials for adults with basic skills needs.

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🔴 “Easy is not easy enough” – Reflections on Digital Basic Competencies: Project Examples

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Jana Wälchli | Swiss Umbrella Association for Reading and Writing

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⚪ Panel Discussion - Balancing Work, Life and Democratic Participation: Priorities for Basic Skills Systems

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Janina Meyer works as a TCA Officer at the National Agency for Erasmus+ Adult Education at BIBB, the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training. Among other responsibilities, she coordinates the research-based long-term activity RIA-AE, which focuses on assessing the impact of Erasmus+ adult education programmes.
Before joining the National Agency, she worked on international cooperation and consultancy projects at BIBB, supporting the establishment and reform of vocational education and training systems. She holds a master’s degree in Latin American Studies and Social Sciences from the University of Cologne and is currently enrolled in an additional master’s programme in Evaluation at Saarland University.
At the conference, she will present the RIA-AE Network as a transnational approach to monitoring the impact of Erasmus+ in adult education.

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🟢 The RIA-AE Network: A Transnational Approach to Monitoring Impact of Erasmus+ in Adult Education

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Janina Meyer | National Agency for Erasmus+ Adult Education at BIBB

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Judith Alamprese is a sociologist with decades of experience in research, evaluation and technical assistance in adult learning, adult basic skills and workforce development. Her work has examined how education, workforce and supportive services can be organised to help adults develop foundational skills, continue learning and move towards family-sustaining employment.
She is President of Alamprese & Associates and previously served as a Principal Scientist at Abt Global. She currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator of the CREATE Adult Skills Network, which supports the development, adaptation, implementation and evaluation of technology-supported interventions to build adult foundational skills and academic attainment.
Judith has advised U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, the National Research Council and other organisations, and has presented at OECD, UNESCO and EBSN conferences on adult learning and education. At this conference, she will contribute to discussions on strengthening the adult basic skills “action chain” and on lessons from integrating digital tools into adult basic skills provision.

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⚪ Strengthening the Action Chain in Adult Basic Skills: Connecting Data, Public Understanding, Policy Development, Implementation Capacity and Evidence Building

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Judith Alamprese | Alamprese & Associates

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🔴 What We Are Learning about Integrating Digital Tools into Adult Basic Skills: Lessons from the CREATE Network

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Klara Perenyi is a Policy Officer in the Union of Skills Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). She works on adult skills policies, focusing in particular on strengthening basic skills and promoting lifelong learning opportunities through initiatives such as individual learning accounts.
Her work supports the design and implementation of EU policies aimed at helping adults acquire, update and develop the skills needed for work, participation in society and personal fulfilment.
At the conference, she will present European priorities and opportunities for strengthening basic skills in the context of the Union of Skills.

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⚪ Strengthening Basic Skills in the Union of Skills: European Priorities and Opportunities

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Klara Perenyi | European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

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Ludwig Willaert has worked for the Brussels Centre for Adult Basic Education, Ligo Brusselleer, for many years. His experience is rooted in adult basic education practice, with a particular focus on literacy, language learning, basic skills provision and the organisation of accessible learning opportunities for adults in Brussels.
Through his work at Ligo Brusselleer, he has been involved in the development and implementation of adult basic skills provision in a multilingual and urban context. His perspective connects practical experience with wider questions of policy, outreach, cooperation and the future development of basic skills systems.
At the conference, he will contribute to discussions on evidence, policy design and implementation capacity, including through the presentation of the Atlas Laaggeletterdheid Brussel study.

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🟢 Atlas Laaggeletterdheid Brussel: a study on the approach of basic skills, now and in the future

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⚪ Panel discussion – From evidence to public understanding, policy design and implementation capacity

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Marco serves as the Belgian National Support Service for the EPALE Platform within the ERASMUS+ National Agency of the French-speaking Community of Belgium.
He has contributed to numerous round tables, seminars, and conferences, engaging with practitioners working on basic skills development. Through these exchanges, he has gathered and shared inspiring practices on the EPALE platform, strengthening collaboration within the adult learning community.
These experiences have reinforced his commitment to promoting the importance of basic skills as a foundation for inclusion, personal development, and lifelong learning across Europe.

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🟤 From Fragmented Practices to Scalable Impact: EPALE as a Lever for Connecting Adult Basic Skills across Europe 

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Marco Cecchinato | National Support Service EPALE – AEF-Europe

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Margit Düüna is an experienced adult educator, supervisor and trainer with more than 20 years of practice in adult learning and development. She holds a master’s degree in Management and is a certified adult educator at Level 7.
Her work focuses on learner-centred approaches, group processes and the development of transversal skills in adult education contexts. As Chair of the Board of the Estonian Non-Formal Adult Education Association, she contributes to the advancement of lifelong learning at national and European levels.
Margit is also involved in national adult education and quality development bodies in Estonia, including the Adult Education Council at the Ministry of Education and Research. At the conference, she will explore how the hidden curriculum can make implicit basic skills development more visible in adult learning.

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🟤 Making the Invisible Visible: Harnessing the Hidden Curriculum for Adult Basic Skills Development

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Margit Düüna | Estonian Non-Formal Adult Education Association

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Marie Quiter studied Media Education / Audiovisual Culture and Communication at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and Adult Education at Humboldt University of Berlin.
As a media and adult educator, she has led media education projects in schools and has worked at Arbeit und Leben Berlin-Brandenburg gGmbH since 2021 in the field of work-oriented basic education and digital learning. Her work connects adult learning, basic skills, digital learning approaches and labour market-related educational support.
At the conference, she will present insights from the COME2CARE project, an ESF+-funded social innovation approach supporting integrated onboarding in the nursing and care sector. The project combines literacy and language learning, vocational orientation, workplace-related learning and anti-discrimination approaches to support inclusion and progression.

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⚪ Panel discussion – From evidence to public understanding, policy design and implementation capacity

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Marie Quiter | Arbeit und Leben Berlin-Brandenburg

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🔴 Bridging Basic Skills, Inclusion and Care: Integrated Onboarding in Times of Transition

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Maria do Carmo Gomes is a Senior Expert on Skills Development and Employment and currently serves as Adviser to the Rectorate Cabinet at ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon. She is an international consultant in lifelong learning systems development, adult learning and vocational education and training policy, with expertise in policy analysis, system performance monitoring, validation of non-formal and informal learning, and qualification systems and frameworks.
She holds a PhD in Sociology from ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, where her doctoral research focused on adult education and training. She has been an associated researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte) since 1997. Her professional experience includes senior international roles with the European Training Foundation and the International Labour Organization. Between 2008 and 2011, she served as Vice-President of Portugal’s National Agency for Qualifications, the public body then responsible for coordinating adult education and training policies in Portugal.
At the EBSN Annual Conference 2026, she will contribute to the opening Portuguese plenary session with a research-informed and historically grounded perspective on adult literacies, adult education and training policy, validation of non-formal and informal learning, PIAAC-related evidence, and the longer-term development of adult learning in Portugal.

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⚪ Adult Literacies and Adult Learning in Portugal: Evidence, Policy Learning and System Development

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Maria do Carmo Gomes | Senior Expert in Skills Development and Employment; Adviser to the Rector’s Office, Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon

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Melanie Ferreira is a teacher and language education professional with international experience in Italy, France, Spain and China, where she has taught English and English for Academic Purposes.
She has worked in several British universities, supporting international students in developing academic literacy skills and navigating UK higher education cultures. Alongside this work, she supports displaced communities in the UK as they navigate education, employment and other systems.
Melanie has developed a trauma-informed communication skills programme designed to enhance employability and help participants feel more confident using English in everyday and workplace settings. At the conference, she will present this work with forced migrant communities, focusing on communication, confidence, intercultural understanding and access to employment.

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🟤 Communication skills programme to enhance employability for forced migrant communities

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Coordinator of the Adult Qualification Unit at the Institute for Education, Quality and Assessment, I.P., responsible for the management, regulation, network planning, and monitoring of adult educational qualifications, including specialised adult qualification centres operating within public or private entities under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.

Director of the Adult Qualification Department at the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training, I.P.
Specialist Advisor at the Office of the Secretary of State for Labour of the 23rd Constitutional Government.
Co-coordination functions for Investment RE-C06-i01: Modernisation of the educational and vocational training provision and institutions and monitoring the update of standards within the National Qualifications Catalogue, at the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training, I.P.
Technician performing functions in procedural management and analysis of the Social Inclusion and Employment Operational Programme and of the Human Potential Operational Programme.
Technical coordination of vocational training projects co-financed by the ESF, and consultant in the fields of vocational and educational training, and accreditation of training providers.

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⚪ The Qualifica Programme and Qualifica Centres — development, current role and future perspectives

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Miguel Silva | EduQA – Institute of Education, Quality and Evaluation

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Paul Sceeny is an independent adult education consultant specialising in adult literacies and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Based in Derry, he is currently Co-Chair of NATECLA, the UK and Ireland professional association for ESOL teachers.
He holds a master’s degree in Adult and Community Education and has published research on the experiences of ESOL teachers in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. His professional experience includes work with education providers and institutions across the UK and Ireland, as well as previous work for a large UK-based awarding organisation.
At the conference, he will present the NATECLA ESOL Managers’ Forum as an example of a grassroots professional community supporting reflection, peer learning and connection among basic skills and ESOL managers.

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🟤 Building a grassroots community of basic skills managers: the importance of extra-institutional spaces to confront challenges, share insights and build connections

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Paulo Ferraz is Administrator of the Polytechnic University of Porto and a member of the Observatory of Adult Competencies. He holds a degree in Business Organisation and Management and a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Economics from the University of Santiago de Compostela, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics.
His professional background combines higher education governance, public management, public finance and project coordination. He has served in senior administrative roles at the Polytechnic University of Porto and at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, and has coordinated national and international projects funded through programmes such as Erasmus+, Interreg and Portugal 2020.
At the conference, he will present the work of the Observatory of Adult Competencies, with a focus on skills gaps, inequalities and the role of research in supporting adult learning policy and action in Portugal.

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⚪ The Observatory of Adult Competencies: Addressing Portugal’s Skill Gaps and Inequalities through Research and Action

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Paulo Ferraz | Polytechnic University of Porto / Observatory of Adult Competencies

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⚪ Panel discussion – From evidence to public understanding, policy design and implementation capacity

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Piotr Sadowski is Vice President of the Lifelong Learning Platform – European Civil Society for Education, a European network bringing together organisations active in education, training and lifelong learning.
His work is connected to European cooperation, civil society engagement and the role of lifelong learning in responding to social, economic and democratic challenges. Through his involvement in the Lifelong Learning Platform, he contributes to policy dialogue on inclusive learning systems and the importance of education and training across the life course.
At the conference, he will address how learning societies can be strengthened in times of transformation, with a focus on inclusion, participation and resilience.

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⚪ Learning Societies in Times of Transformation: Strengthening Adult Learning Systems for Inclusion, Participation and Resilience

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Piotr Sadowski | Lifelong Learning Platform – European Civil Society for Education

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Rui Araújo da Costa is a teacher and education coordinator with more than 30 years of experience in primary, secondary, vocational and adult education. He holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.
He is an accredited teacher trainer in the field of computer sciences and works in the professional development of teachers. He currently teaches Information Technology Applications and coordinates the Qualifica Centre at the Agrupamento de Escolas de Alvalade. He also collaborates with the Institute of Education of the University of Lisbon as a cooperating teacher in the Master’s programme in Secondary Computer Science Education.
As part of the pre-conference visit, he will present the work of the Qualifica Centre and its role in adult guidance, recognition of competences and learning pathways.

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⚪ Introduction to the Portuguese Qualifica approach and the Qualifica Centre of Agrupamento de Escolas de Alvalade

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Rui Costa | Qualifica Centre of Agrupamento de Escolas de Alvalade

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Sílvia Parreiral is Professor at Coimbra Education School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, where she teaches literacy, educational policy and educational gerontology. She is Director of the Master’s Programme in Health Education and President of the Department of Education, Sports and Social Intervention.
She is a founding member of the European Literacy Network and President of APCEP – the Portuguese Association for Culture and Permanent Education. Her work supports the promotion of lifelong learning, adult education and adult literacy in Portugal.
Sílvia also coordinates Letras Prá Vida, an adult literacy community-based project recognised with the EAEA Grundtvig Award in 2017. The project promotes literacy, family literacy, critical digital literacy, empowerment and social inclusion through community intervention, applied research, training, community of practice and policy work.
At the conference, she will contribute to discussions on literacy, ageing and democratic participation in Portugal.

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🟤 Too Old to Matter? Literacy, Ageing, and Democracy in Portugal

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Sílvia Parreiral | Polytechnic University of Coimbra / Coimbra Education School

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Dr Véronique Joulie holds a PhD in Political Science and has more than twelve years of experience within the French Ministry of Education, where she worked in the field of adult continuing education, including as Deputy Director for Vocational Education and Training.
Since 2021, she has served as Regional Coordinator for Occitanie at the French National Agency to Fight Illiteracy (ANLCI). Her work focuses on developing partnerships, coordinating regional strategies and promoting access to basic skills for adults facing literacy challenges. Her professional background connects adult education, public policy and social inclusion.
At the conference, she will contribute to the discussion on how national and local data can support more targeted policies and actions for adults with basic skills needs.

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🟢 Knowing adults facing difficulties with basic skills at the heart of national and local data

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Veronique Joulie | French National Agency to Fight Illiteracy, ANLCI

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Willeke van der Werf works at Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education. Her work is connected to international cooperation, learning communities and the development of approaches that support participation and inclusion through education.
At the conference, she will present a co-creational community approach to basic skills learning and participation. Her contribution will explore how cooperation between learners, professionals, organisations and communities can help create more relevant and inclusive learning opportunities in a changing world.
The presentation will contribute to the discussion on how systems, policies and implementation approaches can better support adults with basic skills needs through participatory and community-based forms of cooperation.

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🟢 The value of a co-creational community approach for basic skills learning and participation in a changing world

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Zoltán is one of the initiators of the Hungarian Association for Lifelong Learning and had a decisive role in developing and promoting the Network of Open Learning Centres in Hungary. Zoltán is a co-founder and director of Progress Development Co., which also functions as a knowledge centre for basic skills teaching & learning for the Network. Progress accommodates EBSN Secretariat in Budapest. He was a member of the EBSN Executive Committee between 2013-17 and the Head of the Secretariat between 2017-23, and he has served as Secretary General since May 2023. As Project Leader for the EBSN Professional Development Series, Zoltán coordinates the production and piloting of OERs & MOOCs in international collaboration.

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Zoltán Várkonyi | European Basic Skills Network

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Zsolt Vincze is Head of the EBSN Secretariat and Treasurer of the European Basic Skills Network. He is an adult learning and project management professional with long-standing involvement in EBSN and in European cooperation on adult learning, lifelong learning and basic skills development.
His work is connected to adult basic skills policy, network development, professional exchange and the coordination of European-level activities in the field of adult learning. He has also been involved in the development of open learning structures, workplace competence development and professional development resources for adult educators.

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Zsolt Vincze | Moderator of parallel sessions, European Basic Skills Network