Skip to content
In April, the SIAE hosted postgraduate students of andragogy from the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, who had selected community education as an elective course. The visit began with a welcome from the Director, who vividly outlined the fundamental pillars on which the SIAE currently fulfils its mission.

The students then explored the practical aspects of implementing community education in a relaxed and interactive atmosphere. Ema Meden first engaged them with an educational game that led directly into the concept of the tragedy of the commons – a framework often used to understand environmental challenges. Serious games, as they are known, enable participants to experience complex situations more comprehensively and holistically. Building on this, Dr Nevenka Bogataj invited the students to reflect on and define concepts such as common resources, community, collective action and, importantly, community education and citizen science. She interwove these themes with the role of relationships that are realised through decision-making, agreement and dialogue. As an outstanding example of community learning in the Slovenian context, she highlighted study circles. For more than 30 years, these have served as a model of collective action that is both local and educational.

The community restrains those who would stand out from the average – whether positively or negatively … the community creates balance. Within a community, we correct one another.

Dr Nevenka Bogataj

At the core of the session, critical thinking emerged – a skill both lecturers skilfully encouraged throughout. The students’ motivation for selecting community education as an elective was particularly encouraging: they perceived it as a counterbalance to the growing individualisation of modern society and the decline in the strength of community values.

The session provided students with a deeper insight into the complexity and potential of community education, equipping them with reflections to carry into their future work in the field. We look forward to further collaboration with these young professionals and wholeheartedly support their contribution to the development of community education in Slovenia.

Erika Švara (erika.svara@acs.si), SIAE

© 2017-2025 Slovenian Institute for Adult Education

​The publication is co-financed by the Ministry of Education.

ISSN 2630-2926

Slovenian Institute for Adult Education
Ministry of Education

Published by Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (SIAE), Šmartinska 134a, SI-1000 Ljubljana | Editor-in-chief: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc (E: zvonka.pangerc@acs.si) | Editor: Ana Peklenik (E: ana.peklenik@acs.si) | Other members of the editorial board: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc, dr Nataša Potočnik, Directress of SIAE, dr Tanja Možina, Tanja Vilič Klenovšek, MSc and dr Tanja Rupnik Vec | Computer solution: Franci Lajovic (T: 01 5842 555, E: franci.lajovic@acs.si) | Translation/proofreading: Mesto znanja, izobraževanje in svetovanje za osebno rast, Petra Cvek, s. p.  | Design: Larisa Hercog | Corrective reading: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc, and Mateja Pečar | W: https://enovicke.acs.si/en/home/