Adult education and continuing education – lifelong learning - German Education Server

"Through a comprehensive overview of policies and data related to the renewed European agenda for adult learning, this Eurydice report aims to support the exchange of policy and practice between countries. The report concentrates on measures to ensure that the most vulnerable groups of adult learners, in particular those with low basic skills or insufficient qualifications, have appropriate access to lifelong [...]

The issue of adult education is highly relevant in Germany given the aging population and need for acquiring digital skills.

The document, an excerpt from the report on the education system in the Federal Republic of Germany, outlines the historical development of adult education in Germany, and the legal framework of continuing and adult education since reunification. Specific emphasis lies on the promotion of Lifelong Learning. PDF-file.

document from: Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)

The reports are divided into two sections.  ‘Policy and Politics gives an overview of the key policy currently in force, and also outlines the main legislation or political situation in the country. ‘Structure and Providers gives more detailed information on the specific structure of organisation, and also outlines the main adult education providers, including non-formal learning, NGOs, e-learning and [...]

The portal presents initiatives and guidelines for adult learning in the European Union.

Institutions and projects

The German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) conducts research in the field of adult teaching and learning, continuing education programmes and institutions as well as on the political and institutional contexts of lifelong learning.  

Skills have the potential to transform lives and drive economies. However, in many countries, imbalances between the supply and demand for skills lead to significant skill mismatches and shortages, with as many as three in five workers in the OECD employed in jobs that do not make the best use of their skills. At the same time, a large number of employers report hiring problems due to skill shortages. This OECD [...]

The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is a nationally and internationally recognized centre of excellence for research into and development of initial and continuing vocational education and training. The aims of its research, development and counselling work are to identify future tasks of vocational education and training, to promote innovation in national and international [...]

iMOVE is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), with offices at the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) in Bonn. The objective is to promote international collaboration and the initiation of cooperation and business relationships in vocational training and continuing education.

Further sources

The Federal Institute for Vocational Education (BIBB) provides this website where occupation profiles can be retrieved.Thhe information includes a database of occupations and new regulations in the field of vocational education and training.

The website lists facts concerning the system of (adult and continuing) education in Germany, basic facts, actors and institutions, funding and availability.

The reports are divided into two sections.  ‘Policy and Politics gives an overview of the key policy currently in force, and also outlines the main legislation or political situation in the country. ‘Structure and Providers gives more detailed information on the specific structure of organisation, and also outlines the main adult education providers, including non-formal learning, NGOs, e-learning and [...]

Skills have the potential to transform lives and drive economies. However, in many countries, imbalances between the supply and demand for skills lead to significant skill mismatches and shortages, with as many as three in five workers in the OECD employed in jobs that do not make the best use of their skills. At the same time, a large number of employers report hiring problems due to skill shortages. This OECD [...]