Lifelong Learning Contribution for a Better Tomorrow

The European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning’s (EUCIS-LLL) Annual Conference: “Social Innovation for Active Inclusion: Lifelong Learning Contribution for a Better Tomorrow”, will take place on 14 May 2012 at KU Leuven University in Belgium.
This event will gather actors coming from the various sectors of education and training all around Europe. It will tackle and propose innovative ways to combat educational disadvantage and fight youth unemployment. The conference will also provide a specific insight on the opportunities of intergenerational learning, in the context of the current European Year 2012 on Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.
Keynote Speakers
Regina Ebner, President of EUCIS-LLL and Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
Regina Ebner has been Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) since 2007 and EUCIS-LLL President since 2009. Before that, she worked as a language assistant in England, a trainer at different adult education institutes and a pedagogical manager for a vocational training institute in Austria. She worked as a project manager at the Council for European professional and managerial staff (EUROCADRES) for more than 5 years. She coordinated numerous European cooperation projects cooperation and headed various associations in the field of adult education.
Androulla VASSILIOU, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport
Androulla Vassiliou has been the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth since February 2010. She was previously European Commissioner for Health. Ms Vassiliou studied law and international affairs in London and practiced law in Cyprus for 20 years (1968-1988). During this period she acted as legal advisor to the Standard Chartered Bank and, later, to the Bank of Cyprus. She was President of United Nations Association of Cyprus for many years and in 1996 was elected President of the Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Women.  
Ides NICAISE, Research manager at the Higher Institute for Labour Studies (HIVA), Catholic University of Leuven
Ides Nicaise has a background in economics and works as a research manager at the Higher Institute for Labour Studies (HIVA), a multidisciplinary research institute specialised in social policy. His main activity is contract research focused on poverty and social exclusion (in rich as well as third world countries). He also teaches at various faculties of the Universities of Leuven. He is a member of the Belgian High Council for Employment, and chairman of the Belgian Resource Centre for the Fight against Poverty, a centre created by law as an interface between the government, the civil society and grassroots organisations defending the interests of the poor.
Ramon FLECHA, Professor of sociology at the University of Barcelona and the founder and former Director of CREA, the Center of Research on Theories and Practices
Ramon Flecha is a professor of sociology at the University of Barcelona and a renowned researcher in social sciences in Europe. He has dedicated his life to the development of theories and practices that overcome social inequalities. He had directed one of the most important studies about the Roma people in Europe, the “Workalo” project. For that he got recognition not only from the academia, but also from the Roma citizens. Currently, Flecha is the principal investigator of the research project INCLUD-ED “Strategies for inclusion and social cohesion from education in Europe” the only integrated project focused on school education in the Framework Programme of Research of the European Union.
Kyriakos COSTEAS, Cyprus representative from the Ministry of Education
Kyriakos Costeas is Counsellor “Education, culture, youth, sport, audiovisual affairs” at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union. The Permanentrepresentation’s mission is to promote the interests of Cyprus in the European Union (EU) and to actively contribute and participate in all community matters.
Pierre MAIRESSE, Director of the Directorate “Lifelong Learning”, DG Education Culture European Commission
Mr. Mairesse is responsible in the European Commission for issues related to the European strategy for Education and Lifelong Learning. An engineer by education, Pierre Mairesse has been working in different areas in the European Commission: information technology and telecommunications, information, culture, youth, sport, citizenship, education and training. He studied in France (Lille) and Canada (Montreal).
Joke van der LEEUW-ROORD, Vice president of EUCIS-LLL and Executive Director of EUROCLIO
Joke van der Leeuw-Roord, Founding President and Executive Director of EUROCLIO, received her degree in history at Groningen University in the Netherlands. She worked as a history teacher, teacher trainer and history advisor. As a leading expert on history education, innovative methodology and trans-national history, she has initiated and coordinated a multitude of national, trans-national projects. She works as consultant for the Council of Europe, UNESCO, OSCE, International Alert and the European Union. She is vice-president of the European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning (EUCIS-LLL).