Various actors provide lifelong and broad learning opportunities in Flanders. These can be categorised as: 

The main publicly funded adult education providers are described in more detail below. 

Adult Education 

Adult education in Flanders is organised by the Centres for Basic Education (CBE) and the Centres for Adult Education (CVO).

Basic education, aimed at improving general literacy levels, is only provided by the 13 Centres for Basic Education. 

Secondary adult education is organised by the Centres for Adult Education. 

The Centres for Basic Education are pluralistic centres, established as non-profit associations. At least one-quarter of the general assembly must consist of representatives from municipalities, provinces, inter-municipal partnerships, public social welfare centres (OCMWs), or districts. Each of the five Flemish provinces has two or three CBEs, and a 13th centre was established in Brussels, where at least one representative of the Flemish Community must be part of the general assembly. 

The Centres for Adult Education are established as either independent or official centres. There are 30 CVOs distributed across Flanders. 

Both CBEs and CVOs are authorised to provide courses for which they hold educational competence, issue valid certificates, organise individual guidance for learners, and operate open learning centres. They are supported by umbrella-affiliated pedagogical support services. 

The interests of CBEs are represented by the umbrella organisation Ligo Centres for Basic Education. The interests of CVOs are represented by the GO! Council for Education of the Flemish Community and by representative associations of the other school networks. One CVO is not affiliated with any representative association of school providers. 

Modular courses at CBEs are designed to align with CVO courses to enable smooth transitions. 

CBEs and CVOs collaborate not only with each other but also with other services such as the VDAB, OCMWs, and municipal administrations. In the case of basic education, this collaboration may include VDAB courses on basic workplace skills or remedial mathematics during vocational training. 

There is also close collaboration with integration and civic integration agencies and the non-profit Huis van het Nederlands Brussel, which support the intake, testing, and referral of learners in Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) programmes. They map the NT2 provision in their area and assess the needs of non-native speakers seeking NT2 training. 

VDAB 

Jobseekers can follow vocational training organised by the VDAB (Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Service) or by a training partner partially financed by VDAB. VDAB is Flanders’ public employment service, established in 1989 to make the labour market in Flanders as transparent and dynamic as possible. To fulfil this mission, VDAB provides training, job placement, and career guidance. 

As an externally autonomous agency, VDAB is not directly managed by the Minister of Work but is led by a Board of Directors. As part of the Flemish government, VDAB is accountable to the Flemish Government, which determines policy priorities and provides funding. 

VDAB produces an annual business plan detailing which projects will be implemented and where services will be maintained, refined, or adapted, based on policy priorities set out in the annual Work policy letter.  

Many VDAB courses are held in provincially organised competence centres. VDAB currently operates 93 offices and 55 training centres. Training also takes place at workplaces (IBO/work-based learning), with partners (education, Syntra, or other providers), or via mobile units that rotate in partnership with public authorities. VDAB also has a virtual learning campus. 

VDAB and SYNTRA Flanders have a framework agreement allowing VDAB competence centres and SYNTRA campuses to share workshops, classrooms, and IT facilities. VDAB primarily uses classrooms during the day, while SYNTRA courses usually take place in the evening. Competence centres are also accessible to schools for a maximum of 10 days per student within an agreed schedule. 

SYNTRA Network 

The SYNTRA centres are the key actors for entrepreneurship training within the ecosystem of business and innovation, helping shape lifelong learning for entrepreneurs and their employees. Since 2021, entrepreneurship training in Flanders is coordinated by the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). 

The SYNTRA network comprises five recognised centres for training self-employed people and SMEs: the autonomous non-profits SYNTRA West, SYNTRA Central Flanders, SYNTRA PXL, SYNTRA Brussels, and SYNTRA Antwerp & Flemish Brabant. In total, there are 24 SYNTRA campuses across Flanders and Brussels. 

Part-time Arts Education 

Part-time arts education (dko) offers courses for young people and adults in visual and audiovisual arts, music, performing arts (drama), and dance. Dko aims to help students discover, understand, and practise the arts. It also provides solid preparation for higher arts education. 

The four dko domains are offered through three types of schools: 

Dko is widely distributed across Flanders. Most large and medium-sized cities have offerings in multiple domains at one or more academies. Smaller municipalities typically have satellite locations where students can follow the first and second stages closer to home. 

Socio-Cultural Adult Work 

A core function of socio-cultural adult work is informal and non-formal learning. It encompasses activities and organisations that contribute to forming competent and empowered individuals and foster community engagement. Participation is voluntary and separate from any school-based or vocational training. 

Socio-cultural work in Flanders is supported by two organisations: