Lifelong learning policies supporting young adults in two Portuguese regions

ABSTRACT

Precarious jobs and unemployment have become common issues for many young adults due to the unfavourable labour market situation in Portugal. Against this background, lifelong learning (LLL) policies have been called in to play a role in creating economic growth and supporting the social inclusion of young adults in vulnerable educational and economic circumstances. These policies are defined at the national level; however, their implementation depends on the action of local actors who face specific challenges. This paper explores disparities in the definition and implementation of LLL policies targeting young adults in two Portuguese regions. Specifically, we analyse professional courses in Vale do Ave (North) and adult education and training courses in Alentejo Litoral (South). These regions were selected due to their dissimilar economic structure. This study adopted a qualitative approach through interviews with LLL experts and policy roundtables with local stakeholders and decision-makers in both regions. Data were transcribed and analysed using NVivo 10. The study shows that the two regions have different cooperation networks between local stakeholders, and that these impact the opportunities to influence the regional skills formation system differently. Also, the study shows that LLL policies are not designed to address destandardised life courses.

KEYWORDS:

• Lifelong learning policies
• definition and implementation processes
• regional specificities
• young adults

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The existence of Vale do Ave, as a territorial unit, was formalised in early 1989 with the creation of NUTS III Ave, which included only six municipalities, as part of an integrated and concerted approach of regional dev.

2. It is important to mention that the access to data at regional level (e.g., NUTS II – North) is somewhat limited, and at local level (e.g., NUTS 3 – Ave) it is actually very limited. Therefore, we mobilise data from the 2001 and 2011 Portuguese Census, which is not exactly recent; however, it is the main available and official data source regarding Vale do Ave.

3. There is a National Advisory Board in each participating country. In Portugal, this board consists of seven members from the policy, research, and education/training fields. These members not only provide their consultancy services, but they also constitute vehicles for the dissemination of the project’s results.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 693167.

Notes on contributors

Mariana Rodrigues

Mariana Rodrigues holds a PhD in Education Sciences from the University of Porto. She has been involved in research on citizenship education, forms and contexts of online/offline participation and the quality of these participation experiences.

Rita Queiroga

Rita Queiroga holds a MD in Education Sciences from the University of Lisbon. She has worked with adults in grass roots organisations and informal groups in the areas of community and rural development in the functional region under analysis in YOUNG ADULLLT.

Ana Bela Ribeiro

Ana Bela Ribeiro holds a PhD in Education Sciences from the University of Porto. She has been involved in research on civic and political participation, education and community intervention, citizenship education, lifelong learning, and education policies.

Natália Alves

Natália Alves is Professor at the Institute of Education of the University of Lisbon. Her main research fields are: youth and adult education policy, education and social exclusion, formal and non-formal education and school to work transitions.

Tiago Neves

Tiago Neves holds a PhD in Education Sciences from the University of Porto, where he is Associate Professor in the areas of research methods, conflict management and social and educational inequalities.