Ministers of Education and Contact Persons for Adult Education in a Study Trip to Germany

In cooperation with Adult Education Center (Volkshochschule) Arberland from Regen and Adult Education Center (Volkshochschule) Cham from Cham, DVV International - Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina has once again organised a study trip to Germany (State of Bavaria) for representatives of ministries of education from in total seven administrative units. The trip was realised from 25th to 30th of June and included five cities of Bavaria: Regen, Cham, Munich, Deggendorf, and Passau.

Among the participants of the study trip were also three cantonal ministers of education: Mr.sc. Muhamed Ramić, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Una-Sana Canton, Mr Mensur Sinanović, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Zenica-Doboj Canton, and Mr Damir Žuga, Minister of Education, Youth, Science, Culture and Sport of Bosnia-Podrinje Canton Goražde, as well as the Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Mr Alden Kajtaz, and the Director of Institute for Adult Education of RS, Mr Goran Zmijanjac.

The aim of this visit was to introduce the participants with the adult education system in the State of Bavaria so that they can use their new acquired knowledge and skills to contribute to the better implementation of laws on adult education in their areas, to the improvement of quality in adult education and overall to systematic and more harmonized regulation of this field in B&H. 

Some of the topics that were observed in the meetings within this study visit are: system of adult education, financing of adult education, adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) as key holders of the system (structure, programmes, financing), dual system of education in adult education, vocational education and adult education, role of agencies for employment and local communities in adult education, as well as validation of prior learning and knowledge.

During the visit, the group had meetings with representatives of the following institutions: Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Arts of State of Bavaria, Bavarian Association of Adult Education Centers (BVV), Agency for Employment, Chamber of Handcrafts, as well as with representatives of co-organisers: Adult Education Center (VHS) Arberland and Adult Education Center (VHS) Cham.

This study trip in Germany is part of DVV International's efforts to improve legal and social conditions for implementation of adult education through exchange of knowledge and transfer of professional expertise from high developed countries to those less developed and those in transition. Well-founded system of adult education can be a base for development of each individual as a part of a society, but also for development of the society in general.