EPALE: Electronic platform for adult education and training in Europe

EPALE is defined as"a free multilingual community for teachers, trainers, researchers, academics, decision-makers and all professionals in the field of adult education and training in Europe".

Financed by the European Community, this platform offers all the functionalities of a collaborative site (blogs, forums, etc.) combined with educational news from all over Europe.

An official launch

The inauguration took place in Brussels on April 15, 2015, and 4 videos are available on YouTube (the speakers speak in English). As part of the European Union's drive in the field of Adult Education and Training, this platform is intended to be a vector for exchanges between all the European professionals mobilized, associated with these actions.

News and information will therefore be representative of everyone's expressions, and not just the official views of the European Commission. Once you've registered, you can read in the document presenting the editorial policy that "all opinions and suggestions will be respected within the framework of a tolerance of correct and non-procedural language."

In addition to a European site, each member country proposes an organization to act as a national helpdesk (in France, this is the A2EF agency in Bordeaux, and in Belgium, cultural diversity is represented by three separate structures).

A collaborative platform open to all

A spirit of openness guides this platform, where it is possible to register in order to gain access to the various resources that will enrich the tool. The site's menu includes :

• a calendar of events: symposia, MOOCs and conferences are proposed by members of the community;
  
• news articles: everyone can or will be able to contribute, as EPALE brings together adult education professionals, who may be adult education providers, academics-researchers-students, national infrastructures-networks, partners in European projects (Grundvig, Erasmus+, etc.) or any other national or European decision-maker;
  
• a glossary of terminology (in "tools and portals") linked to "themes" (learner support, skills, quality, etc.);
  
• a resource center which is just getting off the ground;
  
• and finally a Blog where Epale members can suggest posts.
  

Far from the official and political rhetoric, it's interesting to see such an initiative promoting exchanges between professionals sharing the same interests, via a collaborative platform.

At a time when pedagogical innovations are shaking up practices, bringing together researchers, practitioners, decision-makers and funders around a common concern - namely adult training - can be an opportunity for joint reflection and action.