As EPALE celebrates its 10th anniversary on 15 April 2025, we reflect on an incredible journey of growth, innovation and community building that has impacted the adult learning landscape across Europe.

A Decade of Impact

When EPALE was officially launched on 15 April 2015, few could have predicted the vibrant community it would become and its power to connect and empower adult learning professionals across Europe. What began as a digital meeting place has grown into a dynamic ecosystem where educators, trainers, researchers and policy makers collaborate, share resources and drive innovation in adult learning.

Over these ten years, EPALE has become the primary destination for adult learning professionals seeking to improve their practice, connect with peers, and stay informed about the latest developments in the field. The platform's growth reflects the dedication of its community members, who have contributed thousands of resources, articles and discussions that continue to shape adult learning practice across Europe.

Crossing Borders to build Bridges

Perhaps EPALE's greatest achievement has been its ability to transcend geographical, linguistic and regional boundaries. The platform has created a truly European space where practitioners from different backgrounds and contexts can learn from each other, fostering a sense of common purpose and collaboration that strengthens the adult learning sector as a whole.

Through EPALE, educators working in remote villages can access the same quality resources and connections as those in large urban centres. This democratisation of knowledge and networking opportunities has supported the quality of adult learning across Europe and created pathways for innovation and sharing.

Join our Anniversary Celebrations

To mark this significant milestone, EPALE is offering a series of special anniversary content and events:

• Special blog series: Reflections from adult learning experts on the relevance of EPALE to professional development:
  - EPALE Interview: Give adult education its own space - an interview with Dr Séamus Ó Tuama, Director of Adult Continuing Education at University College Cork.
  - An External Perspective on European Adult Learning and EPALE - a blog post to examine adult learning beyond Europe and consider EPALE’s potential role in the broader global adult learning landscape.
  - Celebrating EPALE: Nordic perspectives - Over the past decade, EPALE has served as a hub for exchange and collaboration among regional networks. Discover what this has meant for the Nordic countries.
   
• EPALE Newscast special Episode: A dedicated broadcast exploring the initial dream of the platform, its evolution and the future of adult learning
• Anniversary Podcast: Conversations with key community members who have helped shape the development of EPALE
• Live Online Discussion: On 15 April, our actual birthday, we held a special livestream followed by a written discussion. Experts gathered to celebrate 10 years of transformation. Here is a summary of the discussion!
• Anniversary Newsletter: We delivered our comprehensive special anniversary newsletter, packed with exclusive insights, milestone reflections, and forward-looking perspectives to commemorate this significant occasion.
• EPALE Community Stories Initiative: This year's call for stories celebrates ten years of change, growth and empowerment in adult learning thanks to the EPALE community. Don't forget to take part and share your story!

Looking ahead

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to the next decade of EPALE's development. The challenges facing adult learning continue to evolve, from digital transformation to meeting the needs of increasingly diverse learner populations. EPALE remains committed to providing the space, resources and connections to help Europe's adult learning community meet these challenges with curiosity, creativity and confidence.

Whether you've been with us since the beginning or are just discovering EPALE, we invite you to join our anniversary celebrations and help shape the future of adult learning in Europe.

Here's to ten remarkable years - and to many more to come!