LICEAL aimed to support adult learners, particularly those who face difficulties in the labour market and social marginalisation, to develop social, civic and relational skills which may contribute to their social inclusion and active participation in democratic life as well as to their employability.

The project developed its activities in line with the recent work of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) on Life Skills, under the assumption that transversal competences – such as cooperation, teamwork, negotiation, initiative and creativity, self-regulation and respect for social norms – are of paramount importance.

Goals

• Developing the capacity of learners, adequately supported by educators, to self-assess and undertake learning and personal development projects contributing to social inclusion and employability is the key strategic project objective.
• Encouraging civic engagement and participation was part of the project picture, following recent policy documents to develop social and relational skills together with more classic employability skills, specialised or transversal.
• By not only focusing on classic training for reskilling and up-skilling in professional terms, we explored synergies between Education for Democratic Citizenship/Human Rights Education and vocational learning, recognizing that also “solid basic skills, digital, transversal, green and other life skills which provide strong foundations for resilience, lifelong learning, lifelong employability, social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development” (EU Council Recommendation on Vocational Education and Training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience).

Target groups

Adult learners were the most important reference target groups for the project, but strengthening the competences of adult learning educators was the key contribution that the project developed.

Outcomes

Through a participatory learning and quality development process, the project helped educators and adult learning organisations face the challenges of rapidly changing labour market and socio-economic conditions in their local contexts. 

Educator’s Guide to Policies

Quick overview for educators on important policies of social cohesion, employment, civic education and adult education (2025).

Publisher: DARE – Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe vzw., Brussels 2024.

Educator’s Guide to Policies

Zimmermann, N.; Pirker, G.;  Rapetti, E. (2024). Transversal Education: Participation, Life, Career Path. DARE Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe Network, Bruxelles. 48 pages.

Practical guide for educators addressing cross-cutting competences in different contexts and areas of learning. It aims to emphasize the potential of skills acquired in active citizenship, democracy and human rights education and civic engagement for professional development.

https://competendo.net/en/Transversal_Education:_Participation,_Life,_Career_Path

Labrot, L.; Pirker, G. (2024). Linking Citizenship and Employability. Analytical Review of Practices and Initial Conclusions. DARE Blue Lines, Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe (DARE network), Bruxelles. 76 pages.

The publication presents and analyses examples of good practice. The results form the basis for the tools that are being developed in the project.

https://dare-network.eu/blue-lines-linking-citizenship-and-employability/

Zimmermann, N. (2024). Training Design Step-by-Step. Practice oriented guide for educators. DARE – Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe, Bruxelles. In Cooperation with Competendo. 14 pages.

The guide supports educators in designing competence-orientated learning processes - with a focus on overarching competences that are important in many areas of life and social roles.

https://competendo.net/en/Training_Design_Step-by-Step

Competence Explorer: The Explorer compares different reference frameworks that deal with transversal competences and gives educators a rough insight into these frameworks. You can use it to check which competences would be particularly relevant for your own work or which competences you would like to work on yourself or with your learners. In addition, the explorer shows how the individual reference frameworks consider overarching competences.

https://competendo.net/en/Competence_Explorer

Toolkit and self-assessment tool

Toolkit for supported integrated (civic education and employability) learning.

https://edu.s-nodi.org

To use the toolkit you must create an account, then select “LICEAL” and your desired language.