Dear Community Members,
As we move into a new season of learning, collaboration and exchange, it’s a great moment to reconnect, share ideas and look ahead. Whether you are designing learning programmes, supporting educators, working with learners or experimenting with new approaches, we’ve gathered a few updates, opportunities and inspiring practices to keep you connected and spark new ideas for the months ahead.
🔈 Upcoming webinars: save the dates 🔈
- 10 November 2026: Webinar “How AI is changing Adult Learning (and us)”
The webinar will explore the impact of AI on adult learning, through a keynote presenting recent research findings/developments and trends on the theme, an insight on EPALE (the EU Platform on Adult Learning), and some practical cases showcasing how AI can impact adult learning in terms of effectiveness, attractiveness and inclusion.
- 9 December 2026: Webinar "What's next for Teacher Professional Development? Relevance, effectiveness and adaptability"
Discover the latest policy thinking on teacher professional development and explore concrete examples. The session will examine what enables meaningful professional learning and how innovative practices can strengthen teaching across education and training sectors.
News from the 2026 NewLearning Award 💬
During the webinar “Connecting the Dots: What’s Next After the European Training Foundation New Learning Award 2026?”, participants discovered the inspiring practices and key lessons shared at the Connecting the Dots event in Brussels. Meet the winners of the 2026 Award and read the summary of the webinar here.
🏆 Community Member Spotlight: Anna Kyrpa’s Award-Winning Practice
Become an Agent of Social Changes is a digital simulation game that uses experiential learning to help learners develop key competences by exploring real-life situations and making decisions in an interactive environment. Recognised through the ETF New Learning Award 2026, the practice shows how digital tools can create engaging learning experiences while helping learners build competences for real-life challenges.
Discover Anna’s award-winning practice here.
Events and opportunities from the EU and around 📣
- If you’re STEAM APPASIONATE, autumn 2026 is the season to get involved
Across Europe, the STEM calendar is packed with opportunities to learn, connect, collaborate and shape the future of education. From the European Summit of STEAM Educators exploring Agentic STEAM and human-centred learning, to EU Code Week, maker education, quantum computing, engineering education, AI and the future of digital skills - there’s something for every educator, innovator and STEM enthusiast.
💡 10–25 October: EU Code Week
⚛️ 14 October: Quantum Computing in STEM Education
🤖 13 November: STEM Digital Conference — Tech & AI to tackle teacher workload
…and many more across Europe.
👉 Explore the full autumn STEM events calendar from the EU STEM Coalition: https://www.stemcoalition.eu/news/stem-events-to-watch-this-autumn/
- Designing eTwinning Projects for Future-Ready Students
📅 20 October 2026
The European School Education Platform webinar will share practical examples of using eTwinning to develop students’ AI literacy, critical thinking and creativity, drawing on an award-winning project.
👉Explore the webinar: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/learn/webinars/designing-etwinning-projects-future-ready-students
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Empathetic AI for Literature and Social Emotional Learning
📅 16 October 2026
Part of the European Commission's webinar programme on digital education, this session looks at the intersection of AI, literature and social-emotional learning. The European Education Area's webinars are open to teachers, trainers, policymakers and others interested in digital education.
👉Explore the webinar: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/learn/webinars/european-commission-webinar-empathetic-ai-literature-and-social-emotional-learning-sel
- EPALE Community Conference 2026: Skills for Resilience, Participation and Democracy
📅 21-22 October 2026
Brussels + live online broadcast
The annual EPALE Community Conference will explore how adult learning can strengthen resilience, participation and democratic engagement, bringing together practitioners and stakeholders to exchange experiences and ideas.
👉Explore: https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/content/save-date-epale-community-conference-2026
📚 Reading Corner: Ideas worth exploring
We’ve selected a few recent publications and resources that may spark new ideas, challenge your thinking and inspire your practice.
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💻 Advancing Digital Education for Every Learner
How is digital education evolving across Europe - and what can we learn from innovative practice?
The new publication Advancing Digital Education for Every Learner - Innovative Practices from the EU brings together 54 inspiring practices demonstrating how digital education is making a difference for learners, educators and institutions.
📖 Explore the publication here: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/efa878de-6ea9-11f1-ae88-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
- 🌍 Rethinking teacher education: across phases and borders
The teff Teacher Academy has been exploring this question through online, hybrid and international learning opportunities, bringing together student teachers, trainees and experienced educators. Drawing on these experiences and their evaluation, teff has developed recommendations for cross-phase and cross-border teacher education. Explore the publication here: https://www.teff-academy.eu/who-we-are/news/article/recommendations-on-cross-phase-and-cross-border-continuous-teacher-education
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📘 New UNESCO Publication: The Algorithm in the Room
How is AI really reshaping education — and what does this mean for students, teachers, families, and communities? This new UNESCO publication brings together 25 thought-provoking pieces exploring the opportunities, challenges, and often overlooked questions surrounding AI in education. A timely read for anyone interested in shaping more just, equitable, and meaningful futures for education.
📖 Explore the publication here:
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000399335
- 📘 Towards an EU Citizenship Competence Framework
The European Commission is working towards an EU Citizenship Competence Framework to support education for democratic citizenship and strengthen the EU dimension of citizenship education. The emerging framework is particularly interesting because it could help translate broad democratic principles into concrete competences that can be developed through education and lifelong learning. Read more here: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-and-publications/publication-detail/-/publication/68412181-9161-11f1-9262-01aa75ed71a1/language-en?utm_source=brevo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Community%20Educators%20Oct%2026
🌍 Explore Erasmus+ opportunities
Looking for new partners, project ideas or resources for your teaching? The European School Education Platform brings together practical tools and opportunities to support schools and educators.
🤝 Connect - Find partners for your eTwinning projects and Erasmus+ mobility activities and projects: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/connect
📚 Teach - Discover lesson plans, teaching materials and eTwinning kits to inspire new classroom activities and projects: https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/teach
Keep the conversation going throughout the year:
💬 Join the ETF Community Open Space - a place to exchange ideas, ask questions, share experiences and connect with fellow innovative educators.
🔗 Join Community LinkedIn group - stay up to date with community news, opportunities, events and inspiring contributions, and continue the conversation with peers.
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