Adult learner mobility gives adult education organizations the opportunity to support learning abroad for adult learners and professional development for education staff. Erasmus+ can support group mobility, short-term learning mobility, long-term learning mobility and job-shadowing activities.
In addition, these activities can support confidence, key competences, intercultural awareness, digital skills, social participation and professional development. For this reason, Tenerife Courses can cooperate with sending organizations to create practical and inclusive mobility programs in Tenerife.
The program should always be adapted to the participants, their learning objectives and the Erasmus+ activity being planned.
What is adult learner mobility?
Erasmus+ adult learner mobility allows people who benefit from adult education activities to spend time abroad and take part in structured learning activities.
Adult learners may include:
-
Seniors
-
Migrants
-
Unemployed adults
-
Parents
-
Young adults not in employment, education or training
-
Adults with disabilities
-
Learners with fewer opportunities
-
Community members involved in adult education
-
Adults developing basic, digital or life skills
The exact profile depends on the sending organization and its adult education activities. Eligible learners should have a clear connection with the sending organization and benefit from its learning program.
Adult learner mobility can include formal, informal and non-formal learning. The activity should be educational, international, structured and connected to the objectives of the Erasmus+ project.
Why plan mobility for adult learners?
International learning can offer benefits that are difficult to create through classroom learning alone.
Adult learners may have the opportunity to:
-
Develop new skills
-
Improve their confidence
-
Practice communication in an international environment
-
Meet people from different backgrounds
-
Discover another culture
-
Take part in community activities
-
Improve digital or practical competences
-
Become more motivated to continue learning
-
Develop a stronger sense of European identity
Mobility can be especially meaningful for learners who have had limited access to international experiences. However, inclusion should be planned from the beginning through suitable preparation, support and accessible activities.
Adult learner mobility: group mobility
Group mobility allows a group of adult learners from the sending organization to spend time abroad and take part in a collective learning program.
The activity should be organized through cooperation between the sending and hosting organizations. It may combine formal, informal and non-formal learning methods.
Possible activities include:
-
Peer learning
-
Community-based learning
-
Volunteering
-
Local heritage activities
-
Intercultural exchange
-
Outdoor learning
-
Practical workshops
-
Group reflection
-
Activities connected with inclusion, sustainability or participation
Qualified trainers from the sending organization must accompany the learners for the whole activity and participate in implementing the learning program.
In practice, group mobility may be suitable when the learning experience is collective and uses existing local resources or activities. However, it is not automatically the correct format simply because several learners travel together.
Short-term learning mobility
Short-term learning mobility is based on an individual learning program for each participant.
The program can include formal, informal and non-formal learning. It should be designed around the learner’s needs, learning objectives and expected outcomes.
For example, this format may be suitable when participants need:
-
Individual learning objectives
-
A structured program
-
Adapted activities
-
Personalized preparation
-
Specific support
-
Individual learning outcomes
-
More detailed follow-up
The word “individual” does not mean that the learner must travel alone. Several adult learners can travel and stay together if each participant has an individual learning program.
The deciding factor is the learning structure, not the travel or accommodation arrangement.
Adult learner mobility: group or individual?
The main question is not: “How many learners will travel?”
The more useful question is: “Will the group follow one collective program, or will each participant have an individual learning program?”
The most important distinction is the learning program, not the number of people traveling.
What does the Erasmus+ Guide say?
The official Erasmus+ Programme Guide explains that group mobility allows a group of adult learners to spend time abroad and take part in an innovative learning program organized through cooperation between the sending and hosting organizations.
The activity may combine formal, informal and non-formal learning. It can include peer learning, work-based learning, volunteering and other innovative approaches.
Qualified trainers from the sending organization must accompany the learners for the full duration of the activity and take part in delivering the learning program.
The content should focus on key competences or Erasmus+ priorities such as:
-
Inclusion and diversity
-
Digital transformation
-
Environmental sustainability
-
Participation in democratic life
The purchase of commercially available training services is not supported under group mobility. The activity should be created through cooperation between the sending and hosting organizations rather than treated simply as a standard course purchase.
For short-term learning mobility, each participant must have an individual learning program. This program may also combine formal, informal and non-formal learning methods.
The difference between group and short-term learning mobility is not based on travel or accommodation arrangements. Several participants may travel and stay together under short-term learning mobility. The deciding factor is whether they follow one collective program or have individual learning programs.
The Erasmus+ Guide recommends group mobility for simpler activities that use existing resources and content. Short-term learning mobility is more suitable when the sending and hosting organizations need to create a specific program adapted to the participants’ individual learning objectives.
What is job shadowing?
Job shadowing is a staff mobility activity, not an adult learner mobility activity.
During job shadowing, an eligible staff member spends time at a host organization abroad to observe professional practice, learn new approaches and exchange ideas with colleagues.
According to the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, job shadowing in Adult Education can last from 2 to 60 days. The activity should have clear learning objectives and a defined mentor at the host organization. A maximum of two participants can shadow the same mentor at the same time.
Job shadowing may be suitable for:
-
Adult educators
-
Trainers
-
Erasmus+ coordinators
-
Managers
-
Volunteers
-
Counsellors
-
Other staff connected to adult education activities
Participants should work in the sending organization or regularly support its core activities. Their relationship with the sending organization should be documented.
Job shadowing in Tenerife
Tenerife Courses can help organizations explore job-shadowing opportunities in the Adult Education sector.
A job-shadowing program may include:
-
Observation of non-formal learning activities
-
Exchange with trainers and facilitators
-
Observation of group cohesion methods
-
Discussion of inclusive education practices
-
Exploration of outdoor and experiential learning
-
Visits to local education or community organizations
-
Reflection meetings with a mentor
-
Planning how to transfer new practices at home
A good job-shadowing program should not be only a series of visits. Before the mobility, the sending organization, hosting organization and participant should agree on the learning objectives and expected outcomes.
During the visit, the participant should observe, ask questions, exchange practices and reflect on what could be adapted to their own organization.
Afterwards, the participant should document the learning and share it with colleagues.
Learner mobility and job shadowing in the same project
An adult education organization may include learner mobility and staff mobility in the same Erasmus+ project.
For example:
-
Adult learners take part in a group mobility program.
-
An educator from the sending organization completes job shadowing.
-
Staff members attend a professional development course.
-
The organization evaluates how the activities support its wider development goals.
These activities should not be treated as one single mobility. Each activity needs its own participants, learning objectives, program, documentation and responsibilities.
At the same time, planning different activities during the same period may be practical. The sending and hosting organizations should clearly separate the programs.
What activities can adult learners do in Tenerife?
An adult learner mobility program can combine different forms of learning depending on the approved project and the group’s needs.
Possible activities include:
-
Group cohesion and communication
-
Intercultural learning
-
Outdoor education
-
Local heritage discovery
-
Digital treasure hunts
-
Community-based learning
-
Volunteering
-
Non-verbal communication
-
Creative workshops
-
Peer learning
-
Reflection activities
-
Environmental education
-
Activities linked to democratic participation
Tenerife Courses uses practical, participatory and inclusive methods. Its wider training approach includes active learning, experiential learning, collaborative learning, art-based learning, garden-based learning and outdoor education.
You can also explore our non-verbal methods course for practical activities that support communication, inclusion and group cohesion.
Example five-day program
The following is an example of a possible adult learner mobility program in Tenerife.
Day 1: Welcome and group building
Participants meet one another, discuss expectations and take part in accessible group cohesion activities.
Day 2: Outdoor learning and the local environment
Participants explore how nature and public spaces can become learning environments through observation, cooperation and reflection.
Day 3: Local heritage and intercultural learning
Participants discover San Cristóbal de La Laguna through a self-paced activity involving observation, local culture and group tasks.
Day 4: Digital and community-based learning
Participants complete a digital treasure hunt or local discovery activity individually or in small groups.
Day 5: Communication and learning reflection
Participants explore communication activities, review their learning outcomes and discuss how they can use the experience after returning home.
For this reason, the program should be adapted to the group’s language level, mobility needs, confidence, learning objectives and selected Erasmus+ activity.
Supporting learners with fewer opportunities
Adult learner mobility can be an important opportunity for participants who face social, economic, cultural, geographical or educational barriers.
However, support should be planned carefully. Before the mobility, organizations should consider:
-
Language preparation
-
Accessibility
-
Travel support
-
Emotional support
-
Clear information about the program
-
Suitable accommodation
-
Health and safety
-
Accompanying persons
-
Different learning speeds
-
Cultural expectations
-
The participant’s previous experience of travel
Activities should be accessible and flexible. For example, an outdoor activity may include seated alternatives, shorter routes or additional rest periods.
The sending and hosting organizations should involve participants in important decisions wherever possible. This supports inclusion and helps create a more relevant learning experience.
Erasmus+ priorities
Adult learner mobility can support several Erasmus+ priorities.
Inclusion and diversity
Activities can help learners build confidence, meet people from other backgrounds and participate in a supportive international group.
Digital transformation
Programs may include digital tools, online preparation, digital storytelling or a digital treasure hunt.
Environmental sustainability
Activities may explore local environments, sustainable lifestyles, responsible travel and the relationship between communities and nature.
Participation in democratic life
Learners may take part in community activities, discussions about European values, volunteering or activities connected with active citizenship.
The project should explain how the planned activities support these priorities rather than mentioning them only as general themes.
What should organizations prepare?
Before the mobility, the sending organization should clarify:
-
The participant profile
-
The learning needs
-
The mobility activity
-
The learning objectives
-
The host organization
-
The program structure
-
Language and accessibility support
-
The role of accompanying staff
-
The expected learning outcomes
-
The evaluation method
-
The way results will be shared after the mobility
For group mobility, the group learning program and participant list should be kept as evidence of the activity.
For short-term learning mobility and job shadowing, learning agreements or similar documents should define the expected learning outcomes.
After the activity, the achieved outcomes should be recognized through a Europass Mobility document or another appropriate document, according to the project requirements.
Funding and organizational support
Erasmus+ funding can include different categories of support, such as travel, individual support, organizational support and support for participants with fewer opportunities.
The exact amounts and conditions may depend on the current Programme Guide, the National Agency and the approved project. Therefore, organizations should not rely on fixed amounts from an older article or previous call.
Organizational support can contribute to tasks such as:
-
Preparing participants
-
Coordinating the mobility
-
Communicating with partners
-
Supporting participants during the activity
-
Monitoring the program
-
Evaluating learning outcomes
-
Following up after the mobility
Always check the current Erasmus+ Programme Guide and your National Agency’s instructions when preparing the budget.
Can Tenerife Courses host these activities?
Yes. Tenerife Courses can cooperate with organizations active in Adult Education to plan practical adult learner mobility and job-shadowing activities in Tenerife.
The program can be adapted to:
-
Adult learners
-
Learners with fewer opportunities
-
Seniors
-
Migrants
-
Community groups
-
Adult education staff
-
Erasmus+ coordinators
-
Trainers and facilitators
Possible learning themes include inclusion, outdoor education, non-verbal methods, intercultural learning, group cohesion, sustainability, digital learning and active participation.
The final program depends on the type of activity, the participants, the host organization and the learning objectives.
Tenerife Courses works with education professionals, nonprofit organizations and schools in Tenerife. You can learn more about our Erasmus+ course locations in Tenerife.
For School Education and VET, different hosting requirements may apply. A school or company may be more appropriate depending on the type of staff mobility or work-based learning activity.
Plan adult learner mobility in Tenerife
Erasmus+ adult learner mobility and job shadowing can support both individual learning and organizational development.
The first step is to define the participants and learning objectives. Then, choose the activity format that best matches the program.
If learners will follow one collective program, group mobility may be appropriate. If each participant needs an individual learning program, short-term learning mobility may be more suitable. If staff members want to observe professional practice and learn from a mentor, job shadowing is the relevant staff mobility activity.
The number of people traveling together does not decide the format.
If your organization is planning adult learner mobility or a job-shadowing visit in Tenerife, contact Tenerife Courses and tell us about your group, learning objectives and preferred dates.
You can also:
Pre-register to our course!
Pre-register to our course!