ConnACT: Connecting through adult community training – first online meeting held

On 12 February 2025, the ConnACT project officially commenced with its first online meeting, bringing together partners from across Europe to discuss strategies for fostering inclusive societies. ConnACT – short for Connecting through Adult Community Training – is a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening migrant integration through tailored adult education and inclusive policies.

ConnACT is about building socially cohesive communities by implementing integration policies that are inclusive, equal, and non-discriminatory. The project recognises that effective integration programmes must be tailored to the needs, aspirations, and abilities of migrants while also taking into account each country’s unique socio-economic context.

To achieve this, ConnACT has two main objectives. First, it aims to enhance migrant integration through adult education by developing and promoting Adult Community Training (ACT) initiatives that are accessible, adaptable, and supportive of migrant learning and participation. Second, it seeks to create a practical ACT Toolkit that compiles innovative, scalable, and reusable best practices. This toolkit will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers and practitioners, helping them develop integration programmes that foster social cohesion and democratic participation.

Several key activities are planned within the project. A mapping of existing integration initiatives will be conducted to identify both successful practices and gaps in current programmes. Additionally, mutual learning study visits will take place in Italy, Malta, and Finland, where project partners will exchange insights on best practices in migrant integration. Lastly, the ACT Toolkit, a digital research tool, will be developed to compile and disseminate effective adult education practices that support migrant integration.

MPG plays a crucial role in ConnACT, bringing its expertise in comparative research on integration policies. MPG will lead the mapping of good practices and take charge of developing the ACT Toolkit, ensuring it serves as a practical resource for policymakers and practitioners across Europe.

ConnACT is a collaborative effort, that unites organisations with expertise in migration, human rights, and education. The core partners include:

• Human Rights Directorate (HRD) – Malta
• Regione Emilia-Romagna (ER) – Italy
• Uudenmaan elinkeino-, liikenneja ympäristökeskus – Finland

With ConnACT now in motion, this partnership is set to drive forward new approaches to adult education for migrants, ensuring their successful integration into European societies.

Stay tuned for updates on the project!