In times of profound social and technological transformation, one term has come into sharp focus as it pertains to the future-readiness of individuals and institutions alike: “future skills.” This refers not only to digital skills but also to social, cognitive, and cross-disciplinary abilities necessary to thrive in a changing world of work and life. These skills include, for example, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and intercultural competence.
The topic of future skills has gained importance in both continuing vocational education and general adult education. In vocational continuing education, the central focus is on addressing the ongoing need for reskilling and upskilling, which underlies the transformation of many job profiles. Continuing education institutions play a crucial role in helping learners acquire these skills and in developing practical and participatory learning formats (see Pielorz, DIE 2025).
The topic of “Future Skills” is also emphasized in European adult education policy.
The European Union (EU) emphasizes the need to promote future-oriented skills and thus provides the European policy framework for the activities of the NKS European Agenda for Adult Education.
In 2023/2024, for example, the EU placed a focus on future skills through the European Year of Skills (EYS). This occasion was used in Germany to address the European Skills Agenda and create synergies between general and vocational continuing education.
The “Union of Skills” also emphasizes among its objectives the need to strengthen the ability to navigate societal changes and crises.
Since the topic of future skills is a key issue for both general adult education and continuing vocational education and training, the National Coordination Office for the European Agenda for Adult Learning collaborates with various partners.
As a member of the organizing committee for the German Continuing Education Day—a nationwide day of action and network of all major associations and stakeholders in vocational, political, cultural, and general continuing education, as well as adult education in Germany—the NKS Agenda EB brings insights from European adult education to the event’s organization.
On September 17, 2025, the 10th German Continuing Education Day took place in Berlin under the motto “Continuing Education Needs Priority – Future Skills: Shaping Tomorrow Together.”
Adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) also focus heavily on future skills and prioritize topics such as democracy, diversity, internationalization, and digitalization. The 838 adult education centers across Germany play a central role in developing future skills, as they have always included interdisciplinary competencies in their broad range of programs.
The interdisciplinary conference of the German Adult Education Association (dvv) took place on May 26 and 27, 2025, at the Volkshaus Jena and was aimed at administrators, educators, and administrative staff at adult education centers. The goal was to view “Future Skills” not as an isolated topic, but as a cross-cutting theme for all program areas and functions of adult education centers. Approximately 430 participants from all over Germany attended, impressively demonstrating the strong interest and sense of urgency within the adult education community.
In the 2026–2027 funding period, the European Agenda for Adult Education will continue to focus on future skills in adult education, particularly the cross-disciplinary skill of “critical thinking” and the advanced application of AI.
The priority themes of the European Agenda for Adult Learning address key challenges and developments in adult education—ranging from future skills and digital transformation to innovative learning spaces, sustainability, and social participation. Selected Erasmus+ projects and mobility initiatives demonstrate how these themes can be put into practice. These examples provide insights into specific approaches, methods, and experiences from European educational work and highlight how European exchange helps bring the Agenda’s goals to life.
On the Electronic Platform for Adult Education, you'll find a collection of resources from across Europe on the topic of the future viability of adult education.
The NKS European Agenda for Adult Education is a member of the organizing committee of the German Continuing Education Day Association (Deutscher Weiterbildungstag e.V.). Through dialogue events and the biennial German Continuing Education Day, stakeholders in continuing education address the topic of “Future Skills” from a cross-sectoral perspective.
