The Municipality of Korinthia, the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (through the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth), and the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation are successfully continuing the operation of the Lifelong Learning Centre (K.D.B.M.) of the Municipality of Korinthia, where General Adult Education programmes are implemented within the framework of the co-funded project “Lifelong Learning Centres (K.D.B.M.)”.

Non-formal education actions, and in particular general adult education actions, are implemented in the K.D.B.M.s. These centres address unemployed and employed adults, regardless of gender, educational level, country of origin, religion, place of residence, as well as young people, students, etc., with the sole requirement being their interest in knowledge and active participation. Educational services are provided either face-to-face and/or through e-learning.

In particular, the initiative focuses on the design and implementation of Lifelong Learning programmes targeted at the adult population, aiming to cultivate and develop key competences for lifelong learning (e.g. communication in foreign languages, mathematical competence, digital competence, social skills and competences, entrepreneurship, etc.). Non-formal education activities, and specifically general adult education activities, will be implemented in the K.D.B.M.s. In order to ensure equal access to general adult education actions, special attention will be given to members of vulnerable social groups, migrants, and individuals living in remote or hard-to-reach areas.

The General Adult Education programmes to be provided will focus on the following thematic areas:

Economy – Entrepreneurship,
Quality of Life – Environment,
New Technologies,
Language and Communication,
Social Skills and Action,
Culture and Art,
Parent Counselling,
Programmes for Vulnerable Groups,
Greek for Immigrants,
Other subjects identified through the assessment of trainees’ educational needs, as suggested by the trainees themselves or proposed by Municipalities and stakeholders in collaboration at local and regional levels with institutions of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs or others.

The flexible thematic areas – “courses” of the K.D.B.M.s aim at the acquisition of basic knowledge. The differentiated teaching approach focuses on the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the trainees.

The contribution of the proposed action to the objectives of the Operational Programme is achieved through:

• Fostering positive attitudes toward learning and promoting equal opportunities for access to education

• Enhancing the ability of adult citizens to adapt to the cognitive demands of a constantly evolving socio-economic environment

• Linking or reconnecting adults to the educational process, especially those who, for any reason, have not completed compulsory education

• Increasing access to the labour market, job retention, and career advancement

• Enabling participation in the “knowledge and information society” and access to new employment, economic, social, and cultural opportunities

• Improving the educational, professional, and social conditions of vulnerable groups

• Promoting active citizenship

• Encouraging the creative use of leisure time through cultural engagement

• Strengthening gender equality

• Reducing the “digital divide”

• Providing education/training with flexibility in time and space

• Integrating ICT into adult education

The programmes offered are open to all adults regardless of country of origin, age, or educational background, including members of vulnerable social groups. Interested individuals must complete an application form and present an identity card, passport, or other legal identification document to participate.

The Municipality of Korinth implements an electronic application system for all programmes. Applications are submitted electronically in a simple and transparent manner. All e-services are carefully designed to offer the most convenient and fast service to the end user.

The project is co-funded by Greece and the European Union through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning”.