Universities are increasingly expected to do two things at once:

• Respond rapidly to skills and labour-market needs, and

• Strengthen social cohesion, inclusion, and democratic participation.

For those working in University Lifelong Learning (ULLL), this dual expectation is now a daily reality shaping strategy, programmes, partnerships, and institutional positioning. How can ULLL teams support employability, re-skilling, and up-skilling while also advancing widening participation, civic engagement, and social responsibility? How can these dimensions reinforce each other rather than compete?

The eucen Autumn Seminar 2026 will provide a dedicated space for practitioners, university staff, institutional leaders, researchers, and policymakers to explore these questions together. Through dialogue, critical perspectives, and inspiring practice from across Europe, the seminar will examine how ULLL can successfully navigate this balance and strengthen its strategic role within universities and wider society.

Topics will include:

• Balancing labour-market responsiveness with ULLL’s wider social mission

• The impact of economic, technological, and demographic change on ULLL practice

• Institutional strategies, partnerships, and governance models

• Evidence, evaluation, and narratives of impact for ULLL

• Practical approaches that link employability, inclusion, and community engagement.