EUCEN has taken up objectives for the creation of a European area of higher education for the development of university continuing education (UCE):
- excellence of teaching and research according to international standards („first and second university missions"),
- international student mobility
- suitable changes of university structures promoting LLL
- output and work related learning content for the promotion of employability.

The autumn conference 2007 at Hannover will focus the latter two objectives. LLL and employability, even though subject of a European strategy, must be promoted in the regional context. Consequently, more emphasis has been given to the „university third mission" during the last decade, that is the knowledge transfer via UCE and consultancy for the benefit of regional development.

Hence, the key question of this conference will be: how should the cooperation between the university and other important stakeholders of the region be designed for the development of different occupational fields and for the promotion of employment within the region?

Leibniz University Hannover invites UCE experts from all over Europe and Germany along with regional experts from Lower Saxony, such as employees, employers, unions, and politicians to this conference. Jointly, modes of UCE and consultancy for an efficient transfer of research-based knowledge to the region shall be debated.

Friday, 30th December 2007, the open day of the EUCEN conference, will start with a keynote paper on the role of the university in its region. A panel discussion of regional experts will help to specify needs of society and demands of economic sectors. There will be conflicting interests: Employers may be expecting tailor made UCE formats and expeditious results. Universities will offer their knowledge while trying to keep control on traditional curricula focusing its long-term educational mission for social and individual needs of UCE participants. The individual motives of adults to attend programmes still add more perspectives to the problem at stake.

While the debate of regional experts will also serve as a case study to our European guests we are hoping that regional experts of Lower Saxony will in turn benefit from the European experience. Substantial elements of the open day are the workshop sessions which will allow a discussion of UCE concepts and practice.