On December 4th, the SIAE hosted Dr Bernd Käpplinger, Chair of Adult Education at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen. During his visit to Ljubljana, Dr Käpplinger met Dr Tanja Možina and Tanja Vilič Klenovšek, MSc, at the SIAE, for a discussion on the quality and professionalization of adult educators and counsellors.
His visit was also used as an opportunity for discussions with our experts about current events in ALE in Germany, with an emphasis on the professionalization of adult educators, quality models for adult education providers, and the role of counseling in the German adult education system. His insights provided a valuable comparative perspective for those working in the field in Slovenia.
Dr Käpplinger also discussed the potentially negative effects of excessive standardization in education, which can hinder the professional growth of educators. The visit developed into a lively exchange of knowledge and ideas, including a comparison of the challenges with participation, shortage of trainers and financing faced by adult educators in all environments. The discussion fostered a deeper understanding of key trends and issues in adult education in both national contexts.
Germany is an aging but learning society where inequality in participation is decreasing in terms of age, gender, professional position, and education.
The main challenges Germany is facing in the field of adult education are the shortage of trainers and mentors and the worrying situation of the self-employed in adult education.
Dr Käpplinger advocates for a balance between standards and flexibility in the development of quality models. There are more than a dozen quality management systems in Germany that are used differently in different adult education centers.
Ana Frangež Kerševan (ana.frangez.kersevan@acs.si), SIAE
