Adult Education: Response to Global Crisis – Strengths and Challenges of the Profession

Adult Education: Response to Global Crisis – Strengths and Challenges of the Profession

JubilarnaBelgrade, November 2009. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Chair of Andragogy, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy and 25th anniversary of the Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, the international conference was held on November 14-15 at the Faculty of Philosophy. The Conference offered different perspectives on the state of the art concerning the professional identity and development of adult educators, especially in the time of global crisis. There were 170 conference participants from 20 countries including number of famous European experts and university professors as well as coordinators of various European projects in the area of adult education. One part of the Conference was the meeting of the Steering Committee of the European Association for Education of Adults (EAEA). Since the 2008. in EAEA Steering Committee there is a representative of Serbian – Katarina Popović, President of Adult Education Society Minister of Education Žarko Obradovic opened the conference emphasizing education of adults as one of the priorities of educational reforms in Serbia. Before the first session the contract on accession of Faculty of Philosophy to European Master in Adult Education had been signed. Working groups, at the continuation of the conference, included intensive exchange of experiences and ideas, with special contribution of international experts which we expect to reflect in the adult education and training in Serbia. Conference organizers: Adult Education Society, Chair of Andragogy, Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy and European Association for Education of Adults dedicated the second day of the conference for domestic and regional participants only, providing space for expert discussions about the new law on adult education that is in preparation phase. These activities provided grounds to improve parts of this law based on andragogical practice from the field as well as take into account experiences on the implementation of the law on adult education from the countries in the region. The conference was supported by the Ministry of Education of Republic of Serbia, German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), European Commission Directorate for Education and Culture and Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (dvv International). One of the outcomes of the Conference is Conference Proceedings. More information: https://sites.google.com/site/adulteducationresponse/