Beyond the Formula
Developing basic mathematical skills for everyday life, independence and critical thinking.
Programme
Erasmus+ – Adult Education
Project partners
Fundacja DeployingFuture (Poland) & Universal Mobility SL (Spain)
Main target group
Adults, particularly older people
Training mobility
27 October – 1 November 2025
Senior mobility in Alicante
20–25 May 2026
Mathematics is not only a school subject — it is a skill for everyday life
Beyond the Formula is an international Erasmus+ Adult Education project created to strengthen basic mathematical skills among adults, with particular attention to older people.
We use mathematics when comparing prices, calculating discounts, managing a household budget, understanding bills and contracts, interpreting statistics, reading graphs or assessing information presented in the media.
The project therefore moves away from traditional, formula-based mathematics and focuses on practical skills that support independence, informed decision-making and critical thinking.
What the project sets out to achieve
Improve basic mathematical and numerical skills among adults.
Increase confidence when using mathematics in everyday situations.
Support financial awareness and more informed consumer decisions.
Develop critical thinking and media literacy.
Help participants recognise misleading uses of numbers, percentages, statistics and graphs.
Promote greater independence and autonomy among older people.
How the project unfolded
Phase 1 · 27 Oct – 1 Nov 2025
International training mobility
A six-day mobility for 10 trainers and educators from Poland and Spain. The partners exchanged experience, analysed the educational needs of older adults and jointly developed practical teaching methods and materials.
Phase 2 · Local workshops
24 workshops — 12 in Poland, 12 in Spain
Groups of older participants worked through real-life situations: shopping, household finances, banking, contracts, statistics, percentages, maps, proportions and misinformation.
Phase 3 · 20–25 May 2026 · Alicante
International seniors' mobility
20 older participants from Poland and Spain came together for six days, applying their skills through practical activities, international teamwork and real-life challenges — using the city itself as a learning environment.
The Beyond the Formula handbook
12
Complete workshop scenarios
12
Practical worksheets for adult learners
3
Languages: Polish, Spanish & English
The materials combine mathematics with financial education, critical thinking, media literacy and resilience to misinformation. They have been tested through local workshops and international mobility activities, and refined based on feedback from participants and educators.
The handbook is available free of charge and can be used by adult education organisations, senior centres, educators, libraries, associations and other institutions working with adult learners.
Mathematics can be learned at any age — not simply to solve equations, but to understand, compare, verify and make better-informed decisions in everyday life.