In 2023, the LifeLong Learning team in Dublin South City Partnership secured accreditation with Erasmus+, as a Community Adult Education provider. This results in funding each year to promote learning opportunities for the various teams of people we work with.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
The programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda. The programme also supports the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Having accreditation is providing us with the opportunity to widen our horizons, as learners and practitioners in adult education; to see how other countries and organisations work and what they do; and to share our experience both away and when we come back.

As part of our Erasmus+ accreditation as a Community Adult Education provider, Dublin South City Partnership continues to support staff development and international learning opportunities. These experiences enable our team to develop their professional skills, exchange knowledge with colleagues from across Europe, and bring new ideas and approaches back to the communities we serve.

Crossing Borders, Connecting Hearts: Empowering Intercultural Communication – Corfu, Greece

From 13 to 18 July 2026, one member of our team participated in the professional development course “Crossing Borders, Connecting Hearts: Empowering Intercultural Communication” in Corfu, Greece. The course focused on developing intercultural competences and strengthening communication, empathy and inclusion when working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The training explored how cultural differences can influence communication, relationships, teamwork and participation in educational and professional environments. Through a combination of theoretical sessions, practical workshops, group activities and reflection, participants considered how to create more inclusive, respectful and supportive spaces for everyone.

Key topics included global citizenship, intercultural communication, empathy, active listening, respect for diversity, team dynamics and inclusive practice. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their own cultural perspectives and experiences, while developing a greater awareness of how cultural differences can shape the way people communicate, interact and understand one another.

The course also included team-building activities that strengthened cooperation, trust and communication among participants. Working alongside people from different cultural and professional backgrounds provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and share ideas that can be adapted to different educational and community settings.

Participation in this Erasmus+ professional development opportunity has further strengthened our commitment to continuous learning, professional development and inclusive practice. The knowledge, skills and perspectives gained in Corfu will support our ongoing work with diverse groups and communities, helping us to promote stronger communication, greater understanding and more inclusive learning environments.