AUPEX is a non-profit organization that, since 1992, gathers more than 210 folk-high-schools and develops lifelong training and learning projects.
A folk-high-school is an entity created by the municipality to enable citizen participation and lifelong education. It is linked to the municipality and carries out intervention programs in the fields of education, culture, languages, employment, innovation, and technologies, among others. Folk-high-schools lead community participation processes that allow for the mitigation of social inequalities, the development of personal and professional skills, and the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture through their training spaces. The folk-high-school is the link between the local government and its citizens and is a vital instrument for the municipality when designing and implementing its policies.
AUPEX plays an essential role in the lifelong learning of those who live in rural areas and marginal neighbourhoods, focusing on social-labour inclusion and citizen participation, especially through digital skills enhancement. Thus, AUPEX contributes to a better society, creating the conditions for
the equal opportunities among citizens and empowering people in a changing and challenging context, to contribute to more sustainable and inclusive development.
AUPEX manages the Digital Skills Programme for Employability in Extremadura, implemented in over 75 digital competence centers across the region -reaching over 29.000 users every year-. The Digital Skills Programme for Employability implements digital inclusion-related training actions, so that unemployees, minorities, youngsters and groups at risk of exclusion can find an opportunity for social inclusion and improve their employability.
AUPEX also develops different projects in the field of art and culture, to value cultural heritage, boost the enrichment of cultural offers, and guarantee universal access to culture. Critical thinking, open dialogue, interculturality, artistic expression, inclusion and personal development are part of the AUPEX’ foundations, considering culture as the basis of social cohesion.