More about ERDI

What is ERDI?

ERDI is the network of national research and development institutes in the field of adult and continuing education in Europe.ERDI was established in 1991 under Belgian law by research institutes in Belgium (Flandern), Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands Spain, and the United Kingdom (England).

According to the Articles of Association, the purpose of ERDI is 

“the organisation of its members in an international network in order to facilitate their functioning, the exchange of information, the provision of services as well as the undertaking of research and development, studies or analysis concerning adult education.”

ERDI member institutions typically combine functions of service, research and policy advice and include both university and non-university institutes who play a key role in supporting the development of adult and continuing education in their respective countries. Usually, only one organisation per country is represented in ERDI. Currently, ERDI has member organisations from fifteen countries.   

What is ERDI doing?

The ERDI network provides a forum for regular transnational exchange of up-to-date information concerning research results, developments in the field, and policy trends. ERDI members work together on transnational research and development projects and organise thematic international workshops.

The ERDI board acts as the editorial board of a series of country reports providing basic data and  information on national systems of continuing education. The series is based on a former German language series 'Länderberichte', published by the German Institute for Adult Education since 1992. For the continuation of the series under the auspices of ERDI, the eight existing reports will be updated and new ones will be produced both in English and in the language of the country concerned. A number of reports is also available online (see Document page).

Since 1999 ERDI has been organising international conferences and seminars where a limited number of experts from a broad range of European countries come together to discuss adult education issues. The first conferences were dedicated to the issues of quality assurance (1999), flexible learning environments (2000) and management of support institutions for lifelong learning (2001). More information and conference documents on the Events page.

One of the working methods of ERDI is the project market. Each year - in connection with the General Assembly - ideas for international co-operation projects are put forward and discussed by the participants. This is an occasion to establish contacts, find partners and exchange experiences. This project market often results in joint applications for the various educational programmes of the European Union (SOCRATES-Grundtvig, LEONARDO DA VINCI etc.).

From 2001-2004 ERDI has been running a Grundtvig 4 network project working on the three thematic issues of - widening participation in lifelong learning, raising demand for learning among adults at risk of exclusion, and professional formation and updating of continuing education staff. More information on the Projects page.