On 6–8 October 2026, partners in the project Cooperation Between the Cultural and Education Sectors in Developing Media Literacy, funded by the Nordplus Adult programme, met in Tampere, Finland. The meeting brought together representatives of the Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė County Public Library of Panevėžys, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, and the Tampere Adult Education Centre (Finland).
The meeting aimed to share experiences in adult education, discuss common challenges, and develop a concept for a new international cooperation project.
Media Literacy Through Sports Stories and Experiences
During the three-day meeting, the partners refined the concept for a future project entitled Media Literacy Through Sport. The main aim is to develop media and information literacy among adults, particularly older people, through sports stories, athletes’ experiences, Olympic values, and interactive educational activities.
This approach would make media literacy topics more accessible and engaging by presenting them through content that resonates with participants, while also strengthening their ability to critically evaluate information, recognise manipulation, and make informed decisions.
Particular attention will be given to adults less likely to engage in traditional learning activities, with a focus on developing more accessible and engaging learning methods.
Experiences Across Sectors, Working Towards a Common Goal
During the meetings, the partners presented their organisations’ activities, learning environments, and experience in adult education.
At the Tampere Adult Education Centre, the partners learned about the Finnish adult education model, lifelong learning opportunities, and practices for engaging different target groups.
Raimonda Gvozdienė and Eglė Vaitkevičiūtė, project management specialists at the Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė County Public Library of Panevėžys, presented Lithuania’s public library network and the role of libraries in developing adults’ media and information literacy.
Representatives of the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum shared experiential and interactive educational methods, activities based on sports history and Olympic values, and their experience in exploring the links between propaganda and sport.
On 8 October, the partners visited Metso Library in Tampere, where they learned about its activities, services, and cooperation with the local community.
From an Idea to a Concrete Project
During the working sessions, the partners drafted an initial project concept document, defining the objectives, target groups, expected results, and preliminary structure of activities.
The plan is to develop a practical methodological toolkit for adult educators, organise international training sessions for educators, and pilot the methodology with groups of older adults. Based on the feedback received, the learning materials would be further refined to ensure they can also be used across a wider network of libraries and adult education institutions.
The partners will continue working together to prepare an application for the Nordplus Adult programme.
This international cooperation brings together the expertise of libraries, adult education institutions, and museums to explore new ways to strengthen society’s resilience to disinformation and promote lifelong learning.
