In December, we celebrated three decades of organised self-directed learning in Slovenia. The event, Tailored Learning for Adults: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, brought together more than ninety participants, including colleagues, representatives of the Ministry of Education (ME) and members of the Self-Directed Learning Centres network.
Set in a warm and engaging atmosphere, the event offered an opportunity to reflect on the initiative’s origins while looking ahead to its future development. An exhibition tracing the evolution of organised self-directed learning and the Centres themselves, alongside expert contributions and informal networking, further enriched the programme. The event was expertly moderated by Tanja Vilič Klenovšek, MSc, Head of the Guidance and Validation Unit.
Opening remarks were delivered by Dr Nataša Potočnik, Director of the SIAE, and Teja Dolgan, Head of the Adult Education Sector at the ME. This was followed by a round table discussion moderated by Ema Perme (ME), a long-standing co-creator of the concept of organised self-directed learning. She was joined by distinguished representatives of organisations where the Self-Directed Learning Centres have been active since their inception. The discussion was further enriched by personal anecdotes, including stories of friendships – and even relationships – that have developed within the Self-Directed Learning Centres.
The expert contributions offered fresh perspectives on the future of Self-Directed Learning Centres. I presented key challenges and strategic directions for their operation within the public service, while my colleague Teja Dušak introduced the updated Virtual Self-Directed Learning Centre. Dr Barbara Samaluk (Faculty of Arts, UL) emphasised the importance of recognising intersectional inequalities in delivering effective guidance processes. Dr Zdravko Kunić (Algebra University College) opened a timely discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in supporting self-directed learning.
Participants envisioned the future of Self-Directed Learning Centres as increasingly virtual and interactive, modern and forward-looking, while continuing to serve as open and accessible learning environments both on-site and online.
The event concluded with an expression of appreciation to all participants and an invitation to continue co-creating the future of adult learning under the slogan: Organised Self-Directed Learning – Learn Anytime, Anywhere!
The event was organised within the framework of the project Strengthening Lifelong Learning (strand 3: Strengthening Adult Education Guidance Activities), implemented by the SIAE in the period 2024–2029 and co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus.
Urška Pavlič (urska.pavlic@acs.si), SIAE