E-learning in Non-formal Adult Education in Latvia: context analysis

The book highlights the relevant issues in adult education in the context of European Union strategic development. The Europe’s 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth is focused on three priorities:

- Smart growth – developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation,
- Sustainable growth – promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy, and
- Inclusive growth – fostering a high-employment economy delivering economic, social and territorial cohesion.

However, there is a disparity between the European Union’s aim to ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the present situation in the European Union.
Currently, the modern Europe is facing global competition as well as enormous socio-economic and unprecedented demographic challenges , including (aging populations, high rates of youth unemployment, low birth rates, migration etc.).
Due to these challenges, the search for opportunities to ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth has brought the European Union to the discovery of the power of education in general and adult education in particular needed to offer solutions to the key challenges that Europe is facing today. There is a growing consensus that adult learning is currently the weakest link in developing national lifelong-learning systems. Participation in adult learning has continued to fall according to The Council of the European Union research data.
Non-formal adult education and training systems need to create empowerment opportunities for all adults, to provide learning opportunities for all as well as to create the appropriate conditions for enhancing adult learning.
The aim of the contribution is to analyse scientific literature on e-learning in non-formal adult education underpinning context analysis of e-learning in non-formal adult education in Latvia as well as elaboration of recommendations on training for teachers who provide e-learning in non-formal adult education.