Last week was marked by the realization of a study visit to the Republic of Croatia. DVV International – Country Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the "Dante" Adult Education Institution, has opened the way for inter-neighborly exchange of information and adoption of examples of good practice in the field of adult education. The visit was hosted by representatives of the "Dante" Adult Education Institution, led by director Andrej Marušić. The group from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in front of DVV International, was led by director Dženita Džano and project coordinator Sabina Šošić. This heterogeneous group consisted of government representatives: Daria Duilović (head of the department for coordination of educational policy, Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Branislav Radinović (director of the Institute for Adult Education, Republika Srpska) and Mira Bera (head of the department of the Institute for Adult Education, Republika Srpska), Lamija Husić (assistant to the Minister for Secondary and Adult Education, Sarajevo Canton), Denis Osmankić (Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Una-Sana Canton), Almira Ezić (assistant to the Minister for Secondary Education, Adult and Youth Education , Una-Sana Canton), Adisa Alikadić – Herić (Minister of Education, Youth, Science, Culture and Sports, Bosnian-Podrinj Canton of Goražde), Amir Duhović (Assistant Minister, Ministry of Education, Youth, Science, Culture and Sports of Bosnian-Podrinj Canton Gorazde). In addition to them, representatives of partner organizations and institutions were part of this study visit: Lejla Halkić (Chamber of Commerce, Sarajevo Canton), Tamara Jakupović (Employment Service, Sarajevo Canton), Adnan Mević (CPCD – Smart resource center) and Elvira Leka ( CEI Nahla).
The official start of the study visit was marked by an address and a warm welcome by the Mayor of the City of Opatija, Fernando Kirigin. After the welcoming remarks, a plenary lecture on the challenges and future of the labor market of the Republic of Croatia was led by Vjekoslav Špoljarić (ministerial advisor, Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy) and Ivana Mehle (deputy director, Croatian Employment Service). The second part of the day was marked by a panel discussion on the topic: "Vouchers as the key to ensuring affordable and quality adult education". The panelists of this discussion were Mr. Vjekoslav Špoljarić, Ivana Drobac Kern (Head of the Department for Vocational Guidance and Education, Croatian Employment Service), Heni Strčić (Director, Rijeka National University) and Andrej Marušić, and one of the users shared her personal experience. Towards the end of the day, along with the tour of Opatija, there was also a visit to Adria International School, where they discussed the possibilities of high-quality internationally recognized primary and secondary school education according to the IB program.
After the delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina received detailed insights into the adult education financing system in the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Ivana Pilko Čunčić (Head of the Sector for Secondary Education and Adult Education, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia) held a presentation on the establishment of the system evaluation of previously informally and informally acquired knowledge and skills, while Mile Živčić (Director, Agency for Vocational Education and Adult Education) and Mario Vučić (Assistant Director for Development of Adult Education, Agency for Vocational Education and adult education). The aforementioned speakers, along with Andrej Marušić, were also panelists on the topic: "How to set standards and ensure the quality and efficiency of non-formal education". In the second part of the day, a visit was made to the hosts - the "Dante" adult education institution, so that the representatives of our adult education organizers could find inspiration and motivation for additional improvements in their organizations.
It should be emphasized that in a few days, at the invitation of the host of the study visit, the most important persons from the field of adult education of the Republic of Croatia gathered in one place in order to present their experiences and share useful information in response to the numerous questions of representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina. All the learned and acquired knowledge will certainly be a step further towards the improvement of our adult education system, and we look forward to the opportunity for renewed cooperation and joint projects with our neighbors.