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Regional capacity for Adult Learning and Education

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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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TRAINING: Building local and regional ecosystems in Vestland

Objectives

Building regional and local ecosystems for competence in ALE (Adult Learning and Education), labour market requirements, and better social inclusion. 

    • sharing best practices from Norway in building ecosystem in ALE
    • micro and macro level impact that can be expected from these best practices in the context of ALE activities    
    • insight into the success criteria, pitfalls and pre-conditions for building better ecosystems in ALE

Practical information

Organiser: Vestland County Council, Norway  

Contact person:  Shahnaz Shefa Amin, shahnaz.shefa.amin@vlfk.no, +47 40142146 

Dates: 18-20 May 2022 (including 1.5-hour Webinar)

Language: English

Venue: Bergen, Norway

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 Vestland County Council before you book your travel and accommodation.

Webinar on 20 May is an integrated part of the programme in Vestland. Therefore, the participants who are attending the programme physically in Bergen will not need to register for Webinar. However, the others who may not have the opportunity to travel to Bergen will have the opportunity to attend the Webinar online on 20 May 10.30-12 CET. The link will be provided by EAEA in good time before the event.

Agenda

Download the programme here.

Travel information

For more information, please click here.

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TRAINING: Campaigning and advocacy

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

Objectives

This capacity building event will support participants to develop their knowledge and understanding of campaigns, advocacy and communications activity to promote adult learning, drawing on insights from Lifelong Learning Week and the Festival of Learning in England, and Adult Learners’ Week and the Inspire! Awards in Wales.

Through attending this event, participants will:

– Understand the key elements of an effective campaign, and identify those that could be useful in their own setting
– Identify effective partnerships for campaigning and communications activity
– Identify strategies for press and media engagement, including use of local and regional press and media
– Understand the role of learning ambassadors and how they can add value to advocacy activity

Practical information

Format

This capacity building event will consist of a mixture of presentations, group discussions and collaborative activities. It will take place at City Lit, an adult education college located in Covent Garden, London. Participants will also have opportunity to take part in a tour of City Lit and learn more about its 100-year history, current provision and facilities.

Registration

To participate in the study visit, please complete the online registration form.

We will then contact you to confirm your place and liaise with you regarding any accessibility or dietary requirements and the practical arrangements for the event. We will also send you some information to read prior to 5 May.

Agenda

Timezone: GMT +1

Event venue

City Lit – Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4BA

Accommodation

Participants should book their own accomodation. We recommended choosing a hotel located in central London, with direct London Underground access to either Covent Garden (Picadilly Line) or Holborn (Picadilly and Central Lines).

 

 

MORE TRAVEL INFORMATION: click here