On International Literacy Day 2021, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning calls on the international community to increase funding and political will in order to ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy, as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

The origins of this scholarly book lie in a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2016 titled: ‘Trends Shaping Education 2016’. This report provides an overview of key economic, social and demographic trends and raises questions about their potential impact on the sectors of education and society generally.

The EU recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, ‘based on a digital, green and fair transition’ and taking into account demographic challenges, is among the priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency in the second half of 2021.