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PATHWAYS – Breaking the Cycle: Innovative Adult and VocationalEducation for the Reintegration of People in Prison

PATHWAYS aims to strengthen adult education in prisons by identifying, adapting and promoting effective practices across Europe. The project focuses on enhancing the competences of prison educators, fostering stronger cooperation between education providers and prison authorities, and supporting flexible and inclusive learning pathways for people in prison. By improving the continuity, quality and relevance of prison education, PATHWAYS seeks to contribute to successful reintegration, while supporting the long-term sustainability and development of prison education systems.

The project will begin with regional assessments and comparative analysis to identify existing needs, challenges and promising approaches in prison adult education. Effective practices will be identified, documented and validated, and an online repository will be developed to facilitate access to knowledge and transferable approaches across participating countries and regions.

To promote peer learning and professional development, PATHWAYS will organise study visits, training workshops and online learning labs, creating opportunities for educators and other relevant stakeholders to exchange experiences and strengthen their professional competences. Project partners will collaboratively develop a practical Toolkit for prison educators, translating evidence and shared learning into accessible resources and approaches that can be applied in different prison education contexts.

The project will also support the development and implementation of regional action plans, enabling partners and stakeholders to translate project findings into concrete improvements at local and regional level. Dissemination activities, policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement will ensure that project knowledge reaches education providers, prison authorities, policymakers and other relevant actors. Particular attention will be given to mechanisms that can support the long-term sustainability, transferability and mainstreaming of successful approaches beyond the lifetime of the project.

As a result, PATHWAYS will deliver a comparative European analysis of prison adult education, an online repository of validated effective practices, and a practical Toolkit for prison educators. Regional implementation plans and policy recommendations will provide concrete guidance for strengthening cooperation between education providers and prison authorities and for improving the quality and continuity of learning opportunities in prisons.

Beyond these tangible outputs, PATHWAYS is expected to strengthen the professional competences of prison educators, facilitate a European Community of Practice, and establish stronger networks for knowledge exchange and cooperation. Ultimately, the project will contribute to more inclusive, flexible and evidence-based prison education systems, supporting sustainable and transferable improvements that enhance learning opportunities, reintegration prospects and long-term outcomes for people in prison.

Objectives

PATHWAYS aims to strengthen the quality, accessibility and sustainability of adult education in European prisons by:

• Identifying and transferring effective practices to improve the quality, accessibility and adaptability of prison education.
• Supporting learners’ skills development through flexible learning pathways and better preparation for education, employment and reintegration after release.
• Strengthening educators’ and trainers’ competences in inclusive, learner-centred and modular teaching adapted to prison contexts.
• Fostering cooperation and peer learning among education providers, practitioners and authorities to support evidence-based and sustainable prison education systems.

Outputs

PATHWAYS is expected to deliver:

• A practical PATHWAYS Toolkit with adaptable modules, self-assessment tools and guidance for prison education providers.
• A European collection of good practices, including comparative evidence on vocational, digital and soft skills education in prisons.
• Tested and transferable approaches implemented across participating prison institutions.
• A European Community of Practice supporting continued peer learning, cooperation and knowledge exchange.
• Strengthened competences of educators, trainers and authorities through study visits, workshops and online learning activities.
• Regional implementation plans and policy recommendations supporting the integration and sustainability of effective prison education practices.
• Improved continuity and quality of learning for incarcerated adults through flexible, inclusive and learner-centred pathways.