The Eastern European Professional Forum on Adult Learning and Education (ALE) was held in Podgorica from 16 to 18 June 2026, bringing together regional experts to discuss the development and improvement of adult education systems in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
The Forum was organised as part of the regional activities of DVV International’s Continental Exchange project, aimed at strengthening professionalisation and policy development in adult learning and education, as well as enhancing cooperation and dialogue among countries in the region.
The Forum gathered representatives of institutions, academia, and organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia. The delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina included Dženita Džano, Director of DVV International – Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prof. Dr. Amina Isanović Hadžiomerović from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, and Sanela Mešanović from the Agency for Labour and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The focus of this year’s Forum was on analysing national adult learning and education systems through work in international teams, presentations, and expert discussions. The Forum also marked the beginning of a joint process to develop analytical overviews and recommendations to improve the sector in participating countries.
In this context, key dimensions of adult education systems were discussed, including the five UNESCO dimensions: policy, governance, financing, participation and inclusion, and quality assurance, to strengthen and align systems with contemporary lifelong learning approaches.
The Forum was marked by intensive professional dialogue and exchange of experiences, to identify challenges and define directions for further development of adult education systems in the region.
In the coming period, the working group from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of an international expert, will work on developing a policy document for Bosnia and Herzegovina based on one of the above-mentioned dimensions.
We would like to thank our colleagues from the DVV International Continental Exchange project for the excellent organisation and for providing the opportunity for joint work, discussion, and exchange of experiences.