PLATO, Leiden University

PLATO is a centre for research and development in education and training. We work both in regular education and in corporate training. It belongs to the Leiden University in the Netherlands. Since its founding in 1983 PLATO has gained experience and expertise in various fields of education and training. Both research and development of training programmes, training materials and other educational arrangements, like simulations and new media, are included in the realm of projects of the centre. PLATO works both inside The Netherlands as abroad.

Expertise
PLATO has expertise in the following areas:
• Lifelong learning
• Organisational learning
• Educational development
• Evaluation
• Youth and safery
• Training for disaster and crisis management

Relevant projects
We have worked on the following projects in the area of adult education and lifelong learning:

Adult Learning Professions in Europe (ALPINE)
The aim of the project Adult Learning Professions in Europe (ALPINE) is to provide a deeper understanding of the state of professionalisation and professional development of the different groups of practitioners working in non-vocational adult education across Euroep (trends and developments). The findings are used to identify key issues and problems as well as areas where action is most urgently needed to make adult learning professions more attractive.

Developing Local Learning Centres
Within the Lisbon agreement the development of local learning centres and learning partnerships is specified as an important component of the new approach required in education and training to reach Lisbon goals for 2010. The Lisbon Council conclusion calls on Member States to take the necessary steps within their areas of competences to develop multipurpose local learning centres. These learning centres have to be accessible to all, using the most appropriate methods to address a wide range of target groups. Moreover, learning partnerships should be established between schools, training centres, firms and research facilities for their mutual benefit.
In order to gain an impression of the extent to which local learning centres and learning partnerships are being developed, the European Commission (DG Education and Culture) has launched this study of local learning centres and learning partnerships.

More information
For more info about PLATO look at http://www.socialsciences.leiden.edu/plato/