One of the measures of the project “Implementation of the European Agenda for Adult Learning in North Macedonia”, implemented by the Adult Education Centre as the national coordinator for the implementation of the European Adult Learning Agenda is the strengthening of the capacities of the Regional Centers for Vocational Education and Training.
Given that these newly established institutions have responsibilities in the field of adult education, meetings were held for information-sharing and professional exchange with staff involved in adult education processes and the validation of non-formal and informal learning.
To this end, representatives of the Adult Education Centre, during the period from November 2024 to May 2025, conducted visits and held meetings with representatives of the Regional VET-Centers in Kumanovo, Veles, Tetovo, Ohrid, and Strumica.
During these meetings, the scope of responsibilities and roles of the Adult Education Centre were thoroughly presented, with particular emphasis placed on the role, responsibilities, and obligations of the Regional Centers for Vocational Education and Training in two segments of adult education – the Verification of Special Programs for non-formal Adult Education and the Validation of non-formal and experiential (informal) Learning.
The staff of the Regional-VET Centers were familiarized with the process of verification of special programs for adult education and the necessary criteria that institutions must meet in order to verify special adult education programs. Special attention was given to the procedure for becoming a provider of adult education services. The steps and required documentation for obtaining the status of an adult education service provider were presented.
An integral part of the thematic scope of the meetings was also the Validation of Non-Formal and Experiential (Informal) Learning. During the discussion on this topic, the rights and responsibilities of the Regional Centers in the process were emphasized, as well as the phases of implementation, staffing structure, conditions for initiation, and quality assurance.
These meetings enabled constructive exchange of information, professional discussion, and were an exceptional opportunity for networking. It can be concluded that such communication and exchange with the Regional Centers is necessary, as there is a clear need for information dissemination, exchange, collaboration, and coordination. Participants had the opportunity to share their views, challenges, and thoughts, expressing a high level of interest in future cooperation.
The main conclusion from this measure is that the Regional Centers for Vocational Education and Training play a key role in the development of skills and competencies among the adult population, and there is a need for further strengthening of their capacities through training and more effective coordination. The importance of continuous institutional support from the Adult Education Centre was highlighted, as well as the need for a clear strategy to ensure quality in all phases of the processes related to the Verification of special Adult Education programs and the Validation of non-formal and experiential (informal) learning.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
