Belgrade, March 2014. Adult Education Society has provided a logistic support to colleagues from Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade during organisation of a study visit of students of social work and pedagogy from University of applied sciences Rotterdam. The visit was conducted during the period from March 16th to March 21st in Belgrade. The students did not only visited Department for pedagogy and andragogy at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, but with the assistance of Adult Education Society a visit to non-governmental organisations, such as NVO Veza, Zivimo zajedno and Red Cross Palilula. During these visits, students of pedagogy and andragogy from both Rotterdam and Belgrade had the chance to face with the social problems within the educational systems, but also with (educational) needs of these vulnerable social groups. The exchange of experience was also happening during the intercultural dinner, night outs and barbecue in the hostel.
Brussels, September 2013. The group of policy makers and experts in adult education from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia attended the Brussels Study visit which took place from 16 – 18 September 2013. The visit was organized by European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) in cooperation with Adult Education Society and support of dvv international. Its purpose was to provide a meeting and initiate cooperation among Western Balkan and EU policy makers and experts, representatives of NGO and think-thank organizations which are involved in adult education and carrying out its missions at EU level. Even more, they had an opportunity to deepen knowledge and understanding of the EU policy in adult education, the European Union’s institutional structure and the institutions and to become more familiar with trends and issues in adult education at EU level. Thus, they shared an example of good practice among each others and define possible framework for future cooperation. The visit was organized around two activities: meetings in EAEA headquarters with representatives of EU organizations and meetings in EU institutions. The host EAEA Secretary General Mrs. Gina Ebner had been facilitating all activities and closely introduced EAEA organization to the participants. In respect to first round of meetings, experts listened presentation and discussed with representatives of EUCIS-LLL (The European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning), EAEA (European Association for the Education of Adults) and SOLIDAR organization. In other case, they visited European parliament, EU Commission DG EAC, Brussels liaison office of the ETF and thus had an opportunity to discuss with policy makers in EU who are in charge of adult education. As the results of meetings, experts and policymakers highlighted importance for further cooperation EAEA with the region. According to this issue, participants expressed necessity for establishing Western Balkan network for LLL and AE in order to become more represented in the international projects on AE and to have more effective advocacy of adult education. Further, in light of further regional activities, participants emphasized lack of information about ERASMUS +. They are more than interesting in to be informed about fund opportunities and possibilities for participation in an upcoming European program. And eventually, besides other important questions that were raised, recognition and validation of nonformal and informal learning has been particularly concerned. Participants concluded that platform at the regional level should particularly address issue of RPL.
Leicester, June 2013. Ph.D. Katarina Popović was reelected on the position of EAEA executive board member at the General Assembly meeting, which was organized on 6th June in Leicester, United Kingdom. She is a founder of Adult Education Society and professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, Department for Adult Education. Apart of election for Executive Board members on the General Assembly meeting, EAEA members elected a new President Per Paludan Hansen from Denmark. Ph.D. Katarina Popović will continue to support networking of adult education “players” in the region with international partners.
Tuzla, M
arch 2013. Adult Education Society and Office of dvv international in Sarajevo were presented together on Forum for searching partnerships within Third call for application of projects Cross border Programme Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina. Forum with more then 150 participants from government and non governmental organizations from Serbia and BiH was held at the 28th of March 2013. in Hotel Tuzla. Office dvv international presented their publication: brochure „Supporting the Development of Adult Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2000-2010“, „Results of the post-CONFINTEA VI Process in South East Europe 2011”, journal „Adult Education”. Adult Education Society presented results of realized project in the field of rural tourism in Serbia. The both organizations were presented their developed cross border project idea concerning rural development through adult education. During the Forum our organizations and project idea attract attention from many governmental and non governmental organizations from Serbia and BiH.
Brussels, October 2012. EAEA (European Association for the Education of Adults) organized for the third time the training for young experts, future leaders from the field of adult education, under the title „European Adult Education and Lifelong Learning“.Adult Education Society enabled the participation of Jovan Miljković, assistant at the Department of Andragogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, on this important programme. The aim of training was to familiarize participants with the main institutions of EU responsible for development of adult education. After get acquainted with the work of European Commission and its bodies, and with the EAEA, EUCIS LLL (European Civil Society Platform on Lifelong Learning) and other key civil society organizations which operate in the field of adult education, participants could understand principles and methods of advocacy work for adult education at European level. During the training participants were exchanging information about the organizations they are coming from and about the educational systems in their countries, thus building foundations for future cooperation, networking and even for some transnational projects.
Belgrade, October 2012. Following many activities realized within the project “Danube Networks”, partners from Belgrade and Ulm have organized the meeting of final beneficiaries of the project from Serbia and Germany. Realization of the project and this meeting were supported by Adult Education Society, The Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, National Foundation for Human Aging “Dr Laza Lazarevic”, University for the Third Age – Djuro Salaj, a.d. in cooperation with Baden – Württemberg Foundation and Center for General Scientific Education (ZAWiW), University of Ulm. During two days visit, the guests from Germany had an opportunity to become familiar with the landmarks of Belgrade, with the projects and programs for elderly in Serbia, and to met their peers, as well as the young andragogy students. The programme of the visit contained various activities such as: poetry workshop “Lexicon of winds and stories” and the second “Storytelling café”. A special part of the programme was opening of exhibition of “Danube boxes” – products of the project “Danube Network Builders on tour”. Additional to this exhibition, the presentation of paintings from art colony of The University for Third Age was organized, accompanied by the music program and presentation of the project “Golden age of life”, which promotes active aging and reduction of stereotypes and prejudices towards elderly in Serbia. The importance and success of this meeting of elderly people from Germany and Serbia found an expression in many beautiful and important memories of this “learning together“ through intercultural exchange.
Brussels, September 2012. Representatives of the Serbian Association of Andragogists (DAS), Department of Andragogy at Faculty of Philosophy Belgrade, Institute for Pedagogy and Andragogy, and Adult Education Society participated in the Study visit to Brussels organized from September 3-6,2012. The study visit was supported by the DVV International. The main topic was European Adult Education and Lifelong Learning and it was hosted by the European Adult Education Association (EAEA). The activities mainly organized in the EAEA premises and allowed participants to get introduced to European institutions functioning as well as to the work of the EAEA. The EUCIS LLL NGO Forum and other relevant NGO has been also shortly presented. The participants were able to hear the presentations of the DG EAC representative as well of the representative of the European Training Foundation. The participants evaluated this programme as unique opportunity to directly meet people engaged in advocacy for LLL and adult education and got introduced into current trends in adopting relevant documents and program platforms. This visit also was an opportunity to relate to other organizations‘ programs and potentials for cooperation with people from Europe and the Region.
Ulm, July 2012. Project Golden age of life was presentes at the international conference Active Ageing and Intergenerational Dialogue – a Challenge for the Danube Countries in a United Europe. The conference was organized by the Centre for General Scientific Education (ZAWiW), University of Ulm, and it was attended by over 200 experts, scientific experts and researchers in the field of adult education. In addition to adult education and learning in the third age, the topics of the conference were intergenerational dialogue and cooperation, the role of civil society, cultural heritage, modern media education in the context of older, sustainable structure in adult education and so on. Representatives of the Adult Education Society presented project Golden age of life. Shared from participants was that this is a very interesting and unusual project idea. Displayed images have provoked excitement, and the representatives of German organizations Bags expressed a desire for displaying photo exhibition in the organization. This is one of a series of interest and inquiries regarding the exhibition and its showing outside Serbia. Participants agreed that the project was very interested and inspiring.
Bad Urach, May 2012. Adult Education Society, in collaboration with partners from Germany, Provincial Centre for Adult Education Baden-Württemberg, organized a study trip to Bad Urach in Germany for multipliers in adult education field. This time, the seminar was attended by 50 participants, among them representatives of a large number of NGOs, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society of the Serbian Government, the Department of Adult Education, Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, the University of the Third Age, and many other institutions and organizations from all over Serbia. The first part of the seminar consisted of a few introductory lectures on EU and Euro-integration processes, the Danube strategy, and participants also visited the Town Hall in Bad Urach, where associate these institutions dealing with public relations gave a very informative presentation on the work of these institutions. Also, the participants attended a workshop where they had the opportunity to learn about the system of decision-making in the European Union. This workshop was the introduction to a visit to the Council of Europe, and participants had the opportunity to talk to representatives of institutions. In the second part of the seminar, participants were introduced with the Adult Education Baden-Württemberg, and visit the VNS-in Tuebingen. At the end of the course, participants agreed on concrete steps for continuing cooperation between partners from Serbia and Germany.
Brussels, September 2011 European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) organized and training for young associates from the organizations engaged in adult education in Europe. The aim of the training was to familiarize participants with the functioning of EU institutions, as well as to inform them about the European approach to adult education and current issues on the topic. A significant outcome was the creation of the network of participants. During the training, they presented their ideas and suggestions on future cooperation and they express strong motivation to implement future joint activities. The training was attended by associate of Adult Education Society Maja Maksimovic, and was also attended by representatives of NIACE from the UK, SWEB from Switzerland, VOX from Norway, etc.
Malmö, June 2011 Together with EAEA, the Swedish Adult Education Association (SAEA), RIO and The Swedish association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) with The Swedish National Council of Adult Education (FBR) as the host, the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) has organized its VIII World Assembly from June 14-17 in Malmö, Sweden. Around 700 participants from 82 countries gather together to identify the priorities of lifelong learning and education and to develop proposals for action at a global, regional and local level. EAEA General Assembly took place on the first day of the event and the new board was elected. Katarina Popovic, the president of Adult Education Society has been chosen for the second time to be a board member. During General Assembly some of the speakers expressed the need for greater involvement of parts of Europe that are not EU countries. At the end of the assembly, intergenerational panel took place and Eva-Inkeri Sirelius, Alan Tuckett and Ekkehard Nuissl von Rein shared their messages regarding adult education with participants. Niamh O’Reilly from Ireland and Maja Maksimovic from Serbia are young adult educators who were representing the future of the field and during the panel they spoke about their goals and vision of adult learning.
Belgrade, June 2011. The fourteenth International Conference organized by the Balkan Society for Pedagogy and Education (BASOPED) in cooperation with the Institute of Pedagogy and Andragogy, Department of Pedagogy and Andragogy, Adult Education Society and Andragogy Society of Serbia, was held at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. Topic of the conference was “Evaluation in Education in the Balkan Countries“. For the last few years, quality in education has become a “hot” issue and a priority in the field of research and in creating national policies. Evaluation is the basis of these processes. About 200 researchers, university professors, policy makers and practitioners in this field presented their papers and discussed various aspects of evaluation. The participants came from Greece, Turkey, Bulgary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and Serbia so they had opportunity to share their experience and ideas and find some common priorities in the Balkan region.
Belgrade, March 2011. Seminar on sustainability and the new initiative organized by the Association for Adult Education has been successfully realized. The event aimed at launching the new initiatives through the support received by representatives of Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg, Landesinstitut für Lehrerfortbildung Bad Wildbad from Germany, and regional office of dvv international from Bosnia and Herzegowina. The facilitators of the seminar, Karlheinz Dürr and Carmen Mattheis, presented different ways of dissemination of knowledge about the EU, as well as the opportunities offered by the Danube Strategy. Presentation of perspectives of the strategy was evaluated by workshop participants as extremely significant, indicating participants’ motivation for creating new ideas and projects. In addition to obtaining information on relevant programs, participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas and formulate joint proposals that are the basis for future activities.
Belgrade, December 2010. Adult Education Society organized a “follow up” meeting for the participants of the study trip in Bad Libencel (Germany) to evaluate travel and exchange the ideas and proposals for networking and establishing cooperation between institutions and organizations in Serbia and Germany. Participants expressed great satisfaction with the organized activities and they managed to exchange ideas and suggestions about possible activities. Selection of topics by the seminar organizers appears to be extremely relevant to the participants. The seminar in Germany was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia: Assistant Minister Mr. Bogoljub Lazarevic, Mirjana Milanovic, Head of the group for Adult Education at the Ministry, Professor Sefika Alibabić, the representative from the Department of Andragogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, representatives of the organization KULT from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other representatives of NGOs, teachers for civic education and trainers and multipliers in the field of adult education. All together, by giving their valuable suggestions and ideas, have formed a unique platform for future cooperation with partners from Germany.
Belgrade, Bad Liebencel, Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Tübingen, October-November 2010. From 29 October – 05 November 2010, a group of education practitioners and multipliers from Serbia, working primarily in adult education, were given the opportunity to participate in a seminar on “European knowledge in adult education”. The Seminar was organised and implemented in cooperation with the Landeszentrale Baden-Wuerttemberg and dvv international partners from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and was funded besides these organizations by the “Service Point for Eastern Europe” / Baden-Wuerttemberg-Stiftung, whose representative, Mr. Kaelberer welcomed the participants and gave a keynote speech on the first day of the seminar in Germany was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia, Minister assistant Mr. Bogoljub Lazarevic, head of group of Adult Education, Mirjana Milanovic, a representative of the Chair of Andragogy, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Professor Sefika Alibabić, representatives of the organizations KULT from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other representatives of NGOs, teachers for civic education and trainers and multipliers in the field of adult education. In the first part of the seminar the participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the basics information about some of european institutions and the EU – institutions and how they function. There were also words about the Danube strategy which is very important for our region, as well as some other programs that are founded by EU founds. The second part included a visit to european institutions in Strasbourg – European Parliament and the Council of Europe, in order to present the basic roles and areas of activity of these institutions. Also in the second part of seminar were visited a number of organizations and institutions for adult education in Germany. The participants had the opportunity to visit the Daimler Corporate Academy AG of the company Daimler Benz. On that occasion, the manager of the Academy Professor Mildenberger introduced (presented) the system of professional and personal development and further education of associates in this great company. The participants visited also Folk high school in Tübingen where they learned about adult education in Germany, the program of the VHS, various perspectives, laws and financial resources of these schools. Moreover, the Adult Education Association of Baden-Württemberg was presented in Stuttgart. The participants highly evaluated the education travel and estimated that it would have a great impact on their work and would improve their practical work in adult education. According to the evaluation, the seminar was very important for of better understanding of the system of organization and realization of educational programs for adults that are applied in Germany, European institutions and whole European Union, its organization, work and ways the citizens of EU can participate in the decision making process. Furthermore showed the evaluation the interest on both sides to continue the cooperation.
Belgrade, Octobre 2010. After the inclusion of representatives from Serbia to the network “Danube-Networkers” in July, the successful cooperation between the Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (ZAWiW) and the Faculty of Philosophy has been continued. As a part of this cooperation, which was supported by dvv international office in Belgrade, academic director Ph.D Carmen Stadelhofer visited Belgrade and presented some of programs for education of different age groups. In addition there was also disscused the Danube strategy and options for financing of the programs in adult education with EU funds. The presentation was attended in large numbers of andragogiss, representatives of the University of the Third Age and other associates in adult education.
Belgrade, October 2010. For the second time in this year, thanks to the excellent resonance and success of the first education trip in May, dvv project office in Belgrade in cooperation with partners from Germany and the national and regional offices in BiH, is going to organize a second trip to Bad Liebenzell (Germany) 28.10. – 05.11 .2010. This time the seminar in Germany will be attended by 31 participants from Serbia and four three Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Serbian Ministry of Education supports these activities because of their importance in adult education and integration processes, which is reflected through the participation of his two senior representatives in the seminar. As part of preparatory activities, in Belgrade was held an meeting with the participants from Serbia, where they had the opportunity to present the institutions and organizations in which they are employeed and their previous experience in adult education practice, to become familiar with details of programs and institutions that will be visited in the travel arrangements on practical matters, such as housing, transportation, required documentation and the like. Participants were given information material of the organizers, it was agreed, and keeping a diary during the seminar in Germany.
Belgrade, September 2010. Goethe Institute in Belgrade hosted the fourth regular meetings of the “German Language Network”. The Adult Education Society is member of the network. Katarina Popovic, Ph.D., the president of the AES, presented the program of the upcoming study visit to Germany, which will be organized in October by “The State Office for Political Education of Baden-Württemberg“ and the Adult Education Society in Belgrade with the financial support of the Institute for International Cooperation of Associations of the German Adult Education (dvv international). The participants of this program will be trainer and multipliers from adult education area from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.
Sarajevo, September 2010. On the occasion of 10 years engagement of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association – dvv international – in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the national office of dvv organized” the conference „Adult Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Southeastern Europe – Contribution to peace and development”. In addition to numerous guests from home and abroad, the conference was attended by delegations from Serbia with senior representatives of the Ministry of Education, Adult Education Society and the Chair of Andragogy and Pedagogy of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. Exchange of information, experiences and knowledges in the field of adult education and lifelong learning has shown the importance of regional cooperation.
Lisbon, September 2010. The Executive Board of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) met in Lisbon in Portugal. In addition to the regular issues and discussions at this meeting the leadership of the organization elected a new vice president. For this really important function is appointed Ph.D. Katarina Popovic, president of the Adult Education Society from Belgrade (Serbia).
