• ComNet rationale
• ComNet objectives
• ComNet activities
• ComNet partners
• Project workspace

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This com- munication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

ComNet rationale

ComNet and the preceding project Euroweaving were conceived against the background that networks play an increasingly important role in European lifelong learning policies. In contrast to this growing importance it appears that the results of some of the funded networks are below expectations in terms of contribution to the educational field concerned. One of the reasons for this seems that many network co-ordinators and partners do not have a sufficiently clear picture of the concept of a network as a specific cooperation structure and of adequate activities and management processes.

Euroweaving produced

• The Art of Networking, a publication with guidance on planning, managing, evaluating and valorising networks;
• a policy document requested by the European Commission: Preliminary recommendations to the European Commission on the implementation of Grundtvig Networks in the new integrated Lifelong Learning Programme;
• a European one-day workshop and dissemination event for (future) network actors.

The latter was received very positively by participants. A clear wish was expressed that a longer and more intense training offer on the networking skills and on the specific knowledge, competences and tools needed for managing European networks would be desirable for the adult education community in Europe.
ComNet is an answer to this need.