A workshop aimed at supporting the working group and relevant institutions in drafting new and revising existing laws and regulations governing the quality assurance system in adult education was held in Belgrade on February 20, 2025, with 27 participants in attendance. The workshop was organized as part of the project "Increased Offer and Diversification of Accredited Non-Formal Training Courses and Adult Training Providers," funded by the European Union.
The first part of the workshop focused on key topics in adult education, including developments over the past 15 years, examples of quality assurance in adult education within the EU, as well as challenges and future steps in this field. These discussions set the foundation for the second part of the workshop, where participants were divided into three working groups to analyse critical issues related to adult education through structured discussions. The discussions revolved around six key topics: a unified approach to adult education, accreditation of training providers, external evaluation, recognition of competencies, financing, and the role of the labour market.
During the final session, participants presented their findings. One of the key conclusions highlighted the need to develop a unified approach to adult education, integrating formal and non-formal learning to create comprehensive national qualifications through modular education. Additionally, improvements in the accreditation process for adult education providers were emphasized, including the establishment of minimum standards. The working groups also stressed the importance of creating a national examination committee for external knowledge assessments and quality assurance, as well as the need for digitalizing the qualification recognition process to enhance accessibility to information.
Another significant conclusion was the need to enhance procedures for the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and incorporate it systematically into adult education, alongside career guidance and counselling as essential components of learner and workforce support. Finally, strengthening collaboration with the labour market was identified as a priority to ensure the relevance of educational programs, along with the need to establish stable financing models through diverse funding sources.
These conclusions will serve as a foundation for drafting proposals aimed at improving existing legislation and developing new legal solutions to enhance the adult education system.