SVEB Director Bernhard Grämiger was until recently a member of the board of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA). What does a Swiss do in a European association and why is SVEB even a member of the EAEA?
Interview: Ronald Schenkel
Bernhard Grämiger, what would be missing if the EAEA did not exist?
Without the EAEA, there would be no voice at European level for training. The EAEA acts at political level, representing around 120 members from 43 countries. It also provides information services and implements projects.
Europe is a very heterogeneous entity when it comes to education. Between countries such as Denmark and Portugal, for example, there are major differences. How does the federation deal with this?
There are major differences in the importance of further training in the individual EU countries. That is right. However, the key challenges remain mostly the same. For example, in all EU countries it remains a challenge to reach the low-skilled. It is also a common challenge in all countries to position continuing education as a means of green transformation and meeting the challenges of digitalisation. In addition, there are issues such as micro-credencials, which should be promoted at European level. The association identifies these common themes and then works on them at different levels.
You were Vice-President of the EAEA until recently. How is it that a Swiss can sit on the governing body of a European association?
There are several reasons for this. The SVEB is a founding member of the EAEA and is therefore firmly anchored within the European association. We also want to play a part in shaping it and are therefore very committed. Of course, we are also known within the association, which is reflected in elections. I was on the board of the EAEA for six years, consisting of twelve people, four of them as vice-president. However, the term of office is limited to six years, which is why I could not be re-elected.
Does the EAEA also have a meaning for Switzerland?
Since mid-2021, official Switzerland has no longer been a member of the European Working Groups on Continuing Education and Training due to the failure of the Framework Agreement. The EAEA is therefore not only an important forum for bringing our interests to the table, but also for following developments in the EU. These developments are extremely relevant for Switzerland. We note, for example, that the EU Commission is currently placing a very high priority on training in addressing economic and social developments. 2023 is the European Year of Skills and the new Agenda for Adult Learning has just been adopted. For Switzerland, these are important initiatives that can also be used. From this point of view, the EU is also a model for an active continuing education policy.
Why is it worthwhile for the SVEB to be a member?
It is our direct access to the relevant developments at EU level. We can influence and also bring our perspective to bear. The EAEA is also a place for networking. Once a year, we meet all the relevant actors at European level. That should not be underestimated.
What did you do on the EAEA board?
Over the past six years, I have worked hard to ensure that the EAEA is strategically well positioned as an organisation. This includes financial stability. We have also been able to contribute technical issues such as our performance in relation to basic skills or our perspective on micro-credentials.
What highlights do you remember?
A real highlight from a very personal point of view was CONFINTEA VII, the 7th International Conference on Adult and Continuing Education in Morocco last year. We clearly saw how important the European network is. As Europeans, because we were well coordinated, we were able to act as a strong, united voice and exert a targeted influence. We were able to make a difference. And that was a great experience for me personally. But I also like to think back very much to the work we did together in the Executive Board. Members meet several times a year, not just for a few hours, but for two days. This has created a bond and strengthened personal relationships. These will last beyond the mandate. And they are valuable when it comes to joint project work, for example.
What do you think back to with discomfort?
I do not really have any negative memories. Of course, I have had to deal with difficult situations time and again, for example when it came to the financial situation. The European Association, too, has to cope with uncertainties, for example when it comes to the allocation of funding. But the EAEA has a very good and committed team in Brussels, with whom I have enjoyed working.
What happens next? Will the SVEB continue to play a role in the EAEA?
After six years, we are no longer represented on the Executive Board. But we will continue to play an active role. In the medium term, we will also want to return to the Executive Board. I have also represented Europe on the Executive Board of the World Federation for the past three years. The European Federation has suggested that I should continue this mandate. In other words, I shall stand for election to the World Federation’s Executive Board again in the autumn. In this way, contact with the Executive Board of the EAEA will also be maintained.
Every year, the EAEA awards the Grundtvig Award. In June, it happened again. What is it all about?
The Grundtvig Award honours projects that excel in innovation and best practice. Each year, the Award is dedicated to a different theme. In 2023, the focus was on Green Transformation. Two projects were honoured: one from Armenia, which has been supporting farmers in the transition to sustainable agriculture since 2004. At the international level, a project from the Netherlands has been recognised that involves vulnerable social groups such as migrants and senior citizens in order to strengthen their skills for the circular economy.
Can Swiss also receive the award?
Yes, it’s possible.