The ‘Social Advancement Education’ program is a well-known initiative that aligns with the needs of learners, society and socio-economic actors. To tackle current challenges such as technological upheavals, ecological transition, and the increased demand for skills, this initiative has been transformed into the ‘Skills for Life’ project, also known as the ‘Adult Education Contract 2035’.

‘Contract 2035’ is based on ‘Vision 2035’. It sets the following objectives: 

1. enable every adult to access study programmes,
2. teach skills with a long-term vision,
3. provide continuing education,
4. teach prerequisites (French as a foreign language, basic skills, etc.) that make it possible to register for diploma training or to resume studies. 

To achieve these objectives, Contract 2035 is based on nine hands-on projects. The topics of the projects include quality, management, administrative simplification, financing, guidance and strengthening partnerships with businesses and other educational institutions. 

In these projects, staff members play an important role, especially concerning the following aspects:

• Develop leadership and improve support to school heads, increase the attractiveness of the function;
• Make state-of-the-art teaching equipment accessible, in particular via Advanced Technology Centres;
• Updating education and training content in the light of the changing realities of the professions concerned and technologies;
• Strengthen the accessibility and quality of the training offered to educational teams, in particular by developing their skills in andragogy (science and practice of adult education);
• Upgrading the digital skills of staff members and equipping establishments with IT equipment;
• Alleviating the administrative burden on establishments, in particular on the management of establishments.

In the year 2023-2024, more than 135,000 students enrolled in 150 institutions which makes this initiative the largest adult education and training operator in French-speaking Belgium. It offers all adults the opportunity to return to education, to obtain a diploma, to reorient themselves professionally or to specialise in an area. Contract 2035 emphasises the significance of having high-quality teaching staff, with a workforce ranging from 2,500 to 2,800 full-time equivalent positions.

For more information:

• http://www.enseignement.be/upload/docs/000000000007/000000018707_ECEUSSIS.pdf
• http://www.enseignement.be/index.php?page=25703&ne_id=7769#:~:text=Le%20Contrat%202035%20repose%20sur,et%20des%20acteurs%20socio%2D%C3%A9conomiques

Source: Eurydice Unit Belgium (French Community)