Basic Funding Principles

In East Belgium, the adult education landscape is funded through grants from the budget of the German-speaking Community and from European Union funds, such as the European Social Fund (ESF) or the Erasmus Plus programme. The political focus lies primarily on providing needs-based, high-quality programmes, but also on labour market and societal relevance, locality, integration and, in part, on quantity.

The following are funded:

• Programmes that contribute to expanding the key competences of citizens (non-formal and formal adult education)
• Programmes that support young people and adults, employees and self-employed persons in learning and further developing vocational competences (training in the skilled trades and crafts sector, Employment Office)
• Programmes for jobseekers aimed at reintegration into the labour market (Employment Office in cooperation with social economy organisations and/or with non-formal and formal adult education providers)

The most common mechanisms for allocating public funds to adult education and training providers are:

• For the implementation of training and continuing education in the skilled trades and crafts sector, the supervisory authority (IAWM) receives financial resources from the budget of the German-speaking Community. The IAWM’s tasks also include the transfer of subsidies to the Centre for Training and Continuing Education in the Skilled Trades and Crafts Sector (ZAWM).
• Continuing education schools (formal adult education) are part of the school system. Schools receive annual lump-sum subsidies for operating costs, supplemented by subsidies based on the number of regularly enrolled students.
• Recognised adult education organisations (non-formal adult education) receive annual lump-sum grants for a period of four years on the basis of approved “overall concepts”.
• In addition, there is the possibility of obtaining additional grants for projects that address a specific local educational need and are approved by the Government.

European funds also play a significant role in the financing of adult education in the German-speaking Community: the European Social Fund (ESF) co-finances important initiatives (women’s education, language training, vocational reintegration programmes). The Erasmus Plus programme is also actively used by stakeholders.

Fees Payable by Learners

Employment Office and Training in the Skilled Trades and Crafts Sector

Participation in the Employment Office’s training programmes is free of charge for participants. For certain training programmes in the skilled trades and crafts, fees are charged for inter-company training courses. For seminars and continuing education events, a financial contribution from the companies or participants is required. For dual study programmes, enrolment fees are payable by both the company and the student.

Institutes of School-Based Continuing Education

Since 1986, all students at the institutes of school-based continuing education are required to pay an enrolment fee, the amount of which depends on the type and scope of the training programme and the status of the learner.

The following students pay a reduced enrolment fee:

• registered jobseekers who are employed for less than half-time or who hold a local employment agency position, or recipients of the integration income for whom a corresponding school-based continuing education programme is provided for in their integration plan;
• asylum seekers;
• recognised political refugees;
• persons with a disability who are registered with the Office for Persons with Disabilities;
• Belgian students completing a programme at the level of complementary vocational secondary education at a recognised Belgian educational institution;
• Belgian students pursuing higher education or university studies at a recognised Belgian educational institution, or students residing in the German-speaking Community who are pursuing higher education or university studies abroad.

Minors subject to compulsory education do not pay an enrolment fee.

The enrolment fee is paid annually at the beginning of the training programme (September/October) at the institutes of school-based continuing education, which then transfer the total amount to the revenue account of the Ministry of the German-speaking Community.

(Legal basis: Decree of 17 July 1995 on enrolment fees and tuition in education; a Government Decree of 20 December 1995 implementing the aforementioned decree, as amended by the Decree of 3 June 2010.)

Centres for Agricultural Training and Continuing Education

Fees are charged for participation in certification courses and continuing education programmes.

(Legal basis: Decree of 29 February 1988 on vocational training and continuing education for persons working in agriculture.)

Non-Formal Adult Education Organisations

As regards the programmes offered by non-formal adult education organisations, course participants pay enrolment fees which serve, among other things, to cover the costs of course instructors. The Decree of 17 November 2008 on the promotion of adult education organisations provides for an annual lump-sum grant, which simultaneously serves as a subsidy for a stable core staff, operating costs and as support for the implementation of continuing education activities.

Financial Support for Adult Learners

In the German-speaking Community, there are a number of incentives for participation in education and training programmes:

DuO

Persons no longer subject to compulsory education who are learning or studying a shortage occupation in the German-speaking Community, or who have been residing there for at least six months and are enrolled in a medical, dental, pharmaceutical, nursing or midwifery study programme, may apply to the Ministry for an interest-free loan for their training. The support currently amounts to 350 euros per month. In return, the applicant undertakes to work in the German-speaking Community for at least five years (at least part-time), or to partially or fully repay the funds received. The measure benefits both the applicants and the German-speaking Community.

DuO

BRAWO (Vocational Training and Continuing Education Initiative)

Employees, jobseekers and self-employed persons have the opportunity to receive a grant for their vocational training and continuing education. The initiative is called “Vocational Training and Continuing Education Initiative” (BRAWO). One third of the training costs is reimbursed. The maximum grant per training programme or training/study year is EUR 1,000. A basic requirement is to have one’s workplace in a private-sector company in the German-speaking Community or to be domiciled in the German-speaking Community. General, i.e. person-related, high-quality, labour market-relevant vocational training and continuing education programmes in Belgium and abroad are supported. The acquisition of driving licence categories C, CE and D can also be funded.

BRAWO

Paid educational leave

Employees in the private sector may take educational leave – under certain conditions – when they complete a recognised training or continuing education programme. Depending on the type of training, they receive time off work for a certain number of hours per school year – regardless of whether the classes take place during working hours or not – and without loss of pay.

Paid educational leave

Study grants 

University students and secondary school students may apply for study grants if their income, or the income of the persons responsible for their maintenance, does not exceed a certain threshold.

Study grants

European education programmes

Erasmus+ enables people of all ages and organisations to develop further, collaborate internationally and acquire competences.

Erasmus+

Subsidies for Private Providers

For the Provision of Adult Education

In the German-speaking Community, it is primarily the European Social Fund (ESF) programme that enables private organisations to apply for public funding for the provision of adult education. In addition, other European funding programmes, such as Interreg and Erasmus Plus, can also be used for this purpose.

European Social Fund

Since its establishment in 1957, the ESF has contributed to reducing disadvantages on the labour market and creating career prospects for all. Each Member State and each region develops its own strategy within the framework of an operational programme. This guarantees that ESF projects are tailored to local needs.

Since 1992, there has been a dedicated ESF programme for the German-speaking Community. Since then, approximately 2,000 people benefit directly or indirectly each year from the programmes co-financed by the ESF. It creates jobs and supports people through training and qualification.

Private organisations (non-profit associations) and public institutions from the following areas may submit projects: employment, social integration and education.

European Social Fund (ESF)

Interreg

Interreg is an EU funding programme that supports cooperation in Europe. The sub-programme “Interreg A” is the action area for cross-border cooperation between border regions. It promotes integrated and harmonious regional development between neighbouring regions. The German-speaking Community of Belgium is part of two Interreg A programmes: Greater Region and Meuse-Rhine. For the Interreg A Meuse-Rhine programme, a “Small Project Fund” is available for financial support of small projects. The Meuse-Rhine Interreg A programme is currently in its sixth programming period (2021–2027). It focuses on four policy objectives, which are divided into eleven specific objectives. One policy objective concerns the promotion of a “more social Meuse-Rhine region in the field of education, training and continuing education”. Possible project types in this area are:

• promoting synergies between universities/higher education institutions and vocational education and training institutions
• a joint strategy to promote exchange programmes and the recognition of diplomas and qualifications, and to promote the acquisition of knowledge in neighbouring languages
• joint education strategies and the development of digital tools and learning methods
• training and continuing education in the healthcare sector

Applicants may be both public and private institutions: regional and local authorities, non-profit associations, NGOs, business partners such as economic development agencies, professional associations, enterprises, particularly SMEs from various economic sectors, schools, higher education institutions and other educational establishments, hospitals and healthcare institutions, organisations in the fields of nature and the environment, tourism, etc.

Interreg A Meuse-Rhine

For Participation in Continuing Education

Person-Related Continuing Education

The Vocational Training and Continuing Education Initiative of the German-speaking Community (BRAWO) enables employers (including freelancers and self-employed persons) based in the German-speaking Community to apply for financial support when their employees (or they themselves) participate in general, person-related continuing education programmes (as opposed to company-specific continuing education, see below).

Upon approval, one third of the eligible continuing education costs is reimbursed, up to a maximum of EUR 1,000 per person per training or continuing education programme.

Employers based in the French Community or in Flanders may also apply for a BRAWO grant, provided that the continuing education participant is domiciled in the German-speaking Community. Foreign companies and public-law undertakings are excluded from BRAWO funding.

BRAWO – Financial support for vocational training and continuing education

Company-Specific Continuing Education

For company-specific continuing education, private companies based in the German-speaking Community may apply for a “training subsidy”. Non-profit associations and foundations are excluded. If a company’s registered office is in another part of Belgium, only training programmes taking place at the company’s operating site in the German-speaking Community are funded.

Training subsidies

Paid Educational Leave

Employees in the private sector may, under certain conditions, take so-called “educational leave” when they complete a recognised training or continuing education programme.

The principle works as follows:

• Depending on the type of continuing education, the employee receives time off work for a certain number of hours per school year – regardless of whether the classes take place during working hours or not – and without loss of pay.
• The German-speaking Community reimburses the employer a flat rate of EUR 21.30 per hour. Certain ceilings apply with regard to the number of hours that can be reimbursed per employee.

Paid educational leave