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Regional capacity for Adult Learning and Education

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WEBINAR: Guidance in Adult Learning – Trends and Innovation

Objectives

As the European Commission report on ‘Lifelong guidance policy and practice in the EU: trends, challenges and opportunities (published in February 2020) indicates new and innovative guidance practices and tools are emerging in response to labour market changes and new modes of delivery, the implementation of new technologies, policy and funding changes, coordination of services and access to new labour market information. The trend towards a more integrated lifelong service includes an emphasis on user centrality, increased tailoring of provision to user preferences, and greater networking possibilities provided by digital technologies. As guidance and learning take place in more diverse settings with ICT becoming more embedded, a single practitioner, professional group or organisation will no longer be able to respond to the increasing need for support among more diverse user groups. This implies the need to create multi-professional and cross-sectoral networks. LLG is an example of an area where there should be shared policy and administrative responsibility among several ministries at national and regional levels.


These challenges have also been highlighted by the respondent to the REGALE survey distributed in 2021 and reaching ALE providers and regional/local authorities. This webinar tries to highlight new trends and innovations in the field of career guidance in different European regions. It provides an insight into innovative practical approaches of guidance systems and services on the local and regional level and in the way they develop.

Practical information

Agenda

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“Building local and regional ecosystems in Vestland” – Our experience

Written by Kleoniki Tsiougkou and Vicky Goutha, Municipality of Larissa

The training titled “Building local and regional ecosystems in Vestland” took place between 18. to 20. of May 2022. Kleoniki Tsiougou and Vicky Goutha, from the Municipality of Larissa, travelled to Bergen, Norway, as external collaborators of the Hellenic Adult Education Association and described their experiences and thoughts.

“Throughout the three-day training, local projects were presented on how local and regional ecosystems can be built for adult education. In addition, best practices were presented by the Vestland County with an emphasis on the smooth integration of migrants in collaboration with stakeholders in adult education.  Working groups were set up to explore new ideas in order to improve the programs provided. It was a really creative and constructive procedure, with lots of experience and knowledge sharing.

The host organized our visits to the Amalie Skram and Åsane  Upper Secondary Schools (USS) in the Vestland fylkeskommune, the Bergen Public Library, the KODE Art Museum and the Employment Directorate in the municipality of Alver where we saw up close their work and had the chance for a productive dialogue. Our participation in the educational activity fulfilled our expectations as it gave us the opportunity to meet interesting professionals in the field of integration, to see up close the methodical and excellent organization of services in the city as well as the excellent cooperation between the services. We exchanged very useful experiences and visited educational structures to observe how they work, which is a good practice for us that we will transfer to our city. 

Of course we would suggest to other colleagues to attend similar activities. The exchange of experiences and good practices, the broadening of the perspective regarding the targeting, the organization and implementation of actions as well as the operation of the corresponding structures, the networking and extroversion of the institutions, the contact with people of different cultures are all reasons to follow similar activities.

Collaboration between services and teamwork, in general, has the best results in the Vestland area. The culture of cooperation is always in demand in our work as well. The cultivation of extroversion, the willingness to recognize any shortcomings and not to hesitate to seek new ideas (as was done during the workshops in Bergen) are elements that will also be used in our work. Among the good practices, we highlighted the mode of operation of the schools we visited which was an excellent example of what in Greece we call “Open School”. 

The implementation of similar mobility programs is very important for all the above reasons. In addition, the participation of Municipalities as partners will further enhance the dynamics of these programs and will contribute to the planning and implementation of joint actions (municipalities, agencies, NGOs) for vulnerable groups, with even better results.”

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Creating a collaborative lifelong learning community in Varaždin county

Written by Levenez Molac, EARLALL

In the framework of the RegALE – Regional capacity for Adult Learning and Education Erasmus+ project, partners and external experts were invited to take part in a peer-learning activity on 20 – 21 April 2022 in Varaždin county (Croatia). The visit aimed at showing how adult learning is organised in Croatia and more specifically in Varaždin. Participants from Vestland (Norway), Baden Württemberg and Belgium took part in the activity.

On 20 April 2022, the group visited the secondary school Srednja strukovna skola Varaždin that proposes curricula for adult learners such as carpentry, designer, fashion technician, beautician, tailor, hairdresser, baker and butcher. Participants had the opportunity to discover the school and exchange impressions with the Director, Dražen Košćak. Participants also met with Katica Kalogjera Novak, the Director of Varaždin’s School of Economics, that offers training courses to become seller, waiter, cook, business secretary, administrative officer, economist but also offers programmes in the field of the hotel industry and tourism.

In the afternoon, the group had the opportunity to learn more about the European Talent Center of Croatia with Robert Kelemen, Assistant Head for development programs and director of European Talent Centre Croatia – Centres of Excellence of the Varazdin County. Mr. Kelemen gave a workshop on how to develop the habit of creativity among students and the way it can create new opportunities for them. He also presented three initiatives in the field of adult learning:

– The “RITHA Practitioner Croatia”, an international postgraduate education program for adults working with gifted students
– The Drone Pilot Academy, a specialised program for lifelong learning created in accordance with the needs of the market and tailored for the requirements of the client
– The European Talent Center of excellence in Croatia


After the presentations, participants discussed and exchanged views on their personal experiences and shared different examples on how adult education is organised in their different countries. 

During the second day, participants visited the Mechanical Engineering and Traffic school of Varaždin and discussed about the different programmes offered in the school, such as drivers for COD 95 and driver’s training for ADR – European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road with the Director, Snježana Klarić.

In the afternoon, the High School “Arboretum Opeka”, offering trainings in the field of agriculture, plant production, and gardening, welcomed the group to present the school facilities, including a tour in the Arboterum Opeka. It is a huge park located outside of the city of Varaždin, with a castle in the middle. The castle is currently being renovated by the school to become a place of teaching for the teachers and students. The Arboterum Opeka is a place where teachers are conducting their classes, outdoors.


During these two days, participants had the opportunity to discover the programmes offered within the vocational schools for adult learners. They discussed and exchange views on the way that adult education works in Norway, Germany or Belgium.

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TRAINING: Community Education in Ireland

Objectives

Community education is adult learning which takes place in local community settings across Ireland. It is learner-centred and responds to the needs of the local community. Community education has a track record of effectively engaging with people who wish to return to education but may not have the confidence or opportunity to do so in a formal setting. It leads to many possibilities for learners and communities, including skills development, confidence building, greater community involvement and progression to further education or employment.

The Community Education Network (CEN) was established in 2007 by AONTAS. It is a network of over 100 independently managed community education providers who work collaboratively, share information and resources, engage in professional development, and ensure that community education is valued and resourced.

In this study visit we invite all partners to join our Community Education Network Meeting on the first day, to have a deeper understanding of community education in Ireland and how the CEN works. On the second day, we will visit two community education centres in Dublin to learn more about the functioning of these organisations.

Practical information

Organiser: AONTAS, Ireland

Contact person: Ecem Akarca, AONTAS EU Projects Officer, eakarca@aontas.com

Dates: 23 – 24 June 2022 

Language: English

Venue: Dublin, Ireland

Registration

If you would like to participate, please register here. 

Please make sure that your place at the training has been confirmed by email by AONTAS before you book your travel and accommodation.

This activity is limited to 12 people, and those who have already provided their application to the shared RegALE form will be prioritised.

Agenda

Download the programme here.

Travel information

For more information, please click here.

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WEBINAR: Best practices from regional/local ecosystems in Vestland in context of ALE

Objectives

The webinar provides you with the opportunity to:

  • obtain new ideas on how to build local and regional ecosystem for adult learning and education;
  • create a possibility to replicate the best practices from Vestland to your region;
  • involve and collaborate with cross-sectoral stakeholders in adult education. 

Speakers and facilitators

  • Iver Belle-Ramos, Project Leader Bergen Opportunity, Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  • Paul Evers, Senior Adviser, Business Development Centre, VCC

  • Astrid Espegren, Researcher, Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)

  • Andres Lopéz Aliciasson, Regional Adviser, NAAL

Practical information

Registration: click here

Contact person: Shahnaz Shefa Amin, Vestland County Council, Shahnaz.Shefa.Amin@vlfk.no 

Agenda

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WEBINAR: Community Education

Objectives

Community education is adult learning which takes place in local community settings across Ireland. It is learner-centred and responds to the needs of the local community. Community education has a track record of effectively engaging with people who wish to return to education but may not have the confidence or opportunity to do so in a formal setting. It leads to many possibilities for learners and communities, including skills development, confidence building, greater community involvement and progression to further education or employment.

The Community Education Network (CEN) was established in 2007 by AONTAS. It is a network of over 100 independently managed community education providers who work collaboratively, sharing information and resources, engaging in professional development and working to ensure that community education is valued and resourced.

In this webinar, we will present: 

  • Community Education in Ireland and AONTAS National Community Education Network (CEN)
  • The theory of community education and the Critical Theory
  • Practical information on how community education supports marginalised learners and how it addresses the challenges faced by these learners.
  • Learners’ perspective on community education

Speakers and facilitators

  • Dr Niamh O’Reilly, CEO- AONTAS: Niamh will open the event and provide a speech on AONTAS’s work on community education sector in Ireland.
  • Suzanne Kyle, Senior Community Education Officer- AONTAS: Suzanne will speak about community education in Ireland and the AONTAS National Community Education Network (CEN). The focus will be the strengths of the sector and some of the issues that community education providers face which they aim to address through the CEN.
  • Dr Camilla Fitzsimons, Lecturer- Maynooth University Camilla will speak about the theory of community education with a particular focus on Critical Theory and how it can inform the work of community education practitioners. 
  • Mary Maher, Director, and Clara O’Connor, Adult Learner – Dublin Adult Learning Centre (DALC): Mary and Clara will talk about the practical aspects of community education. Mary will explain their setting and work at their centre, how they listen to the learner voice and provide courses and consultation, and the challenges they face. Clara will bring learner perspective to the event by telling her learning story, and what community education means to her.

Practical information

Registration: click here

Contact person: Ecem Akarca, AONTAS EU Projects Officer, eakarca@aontas.com 

Agenda

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