Joining Forces to Amplify Learner Voice: ENHANCE Project Partners Gather in Linz for Transnational Partner Meeting

7th May 2025

European partners meet in Linz to drive forward the ENHANCE project and embed Learner Voice at every level of adult education.

Written by Megan O’Neil, Communications and Digital Media Officer at AONTAS

On April 3^rd, the partners for the ENHANCE project gathered in the back courtyard of a communal housing project in Linz, Austria. Many of us were meeting face-to-face for the first time and the impressive DIY furniture and political art surrounding us made for a perfect conversation starter. However, our surroundings also reminded us of why we were there. This courtyard was the embodiment of community action and the power of people using their voice to express themselves — which are both at the heart of the Learner Voice work we are advancing through the ENHANCE project.

The aim of the ENHANCE project is to cultivate participatory learning environments that put the needs and experiences of the learner at the forefront. While research shows that empowering learners to shape their education can lead to better outcomes, many providers and policymakers still lack the knowledge to effectively implement Learner Voice into their work. The ENHANCE project aims to change this through equipping those involved in adult education with the tools and resources to embed Learner Voice policies and practices at all levels.

Funded by Erasmus+, this project provides partners the opportunity to come together in a European city during the duration of the project. These gatherings — known as a Transnational Partner Meeting (TPM) — are vital for project collaboration, decision-making, management, and the sharing of best practices. But they also serve the purpose of fostering professional relationships and promoting intercultural exchange.

The reason we met in the courtyard of this unique housing project is because it is also the location of our TPM hosts, das kollektiv. Das kollektiv is an adult education provider for migrant women and one of eight partners on ENHANCE. The other partners include Solidar from Belgium, NHE from Hungary, Stichting ABC from the Netherlands, SVEB from Switzerland, Färnebo from Sweden, CINOP from the Netherlands and AONTAS from Ireland. The ENHANCE project coordinator is EAEA from Belgium.

Following our initial greetings in the courtyard, we headed upstairs to a das kollektiv classroom, eager to get started on progressing the project. We had a short round of introductions and icebreakers before diving right into our first agenda item — the financial reporting requirements. Since good financial management is vital for EU projects, the project partners appreciated this informative session and the support from Angeliki Giannakopoulou from EAEA.

After a short break with snacks and refreshments provided by our hospitable host, we kicked off a series of workshops that were each tailored to a specific work package that would lead to a project deliverable. Spanning the rest of the day and the following morning, these workshops included brainstorming sessions, planning next steps and ensuring all partners were aligned and had everything they needed to move forward.

The deliverables discussed in the workshops include a matrix of best practices for Learner Voice across Europe, booklets co-designed through storytelling workshops with learners, a policy roadmap to make structural changes that promote Learner Voice, and a podcast series with practical advice and inspiration for implementing Learner voice across all levels. We also had a workshop to develop a communications and dissemination plan, which is instrumental in ensuring the project resources are widely distributed and used.

As the TPM came to a close around midday on April 4^th, many of the partners were expressing similar sentiments. We felt energised, aligned and motivated to progress onto the next stages of the project. But there was also a palpable feeling of connection among the project partners. Although we came from ten different countries, our dedication to adult learning transcended any linguistic or cultural differences. This TPM certainly succeeded in enabling us to better coordinate and manage the project. However, it may have inadvertently succeeded in other ways as well.