As global educational trends increasingly move towards the concept of lifelong learning, Bosnia and Herzegovina is taking decisive steps in strategically structuring this field. The fourth meeting of the Working Group for the Revised Strategic Platform for Adult Education in the Context of Lifelong Learning was a key step toward building a comprehensive strategic framework for the education sector.
The previous Platform, the most important state-level strategic document in adult education, expired in 2020. In 2024, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Information on the Implementation of the Strategic Platform 2014–2020, which confirmed that the strategic objectives had not been fully achieved, while also emphasising the need to continue reform processes. Based on this Information, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was tasked with initiating the development of a new, more advanced document aligned with the needs of the sector, the recommendations of the European Union, and the specific characteristics of the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The adoption of the Revised Strategic Platform opens the possibility for Bosnia and Herzegovina to access funding from the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). This not only fulfils one of the recommendations of the European Commission issued by the Subcommittee on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy, but also ensures a more sustainable model of financing and service provision in the field of adult education, as well as the active involvement of local communities.
The Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Education, Mr Adnan Husić, emphasised that the Strategic Platform represents a fundamental document for improving the standards and quality of learning, as well as one of the key prerequisites for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress on its path towards membership in the European Union.
“It is important to emphasise that the development of a state-level strategic document for adult education is not only an internal development need, but also an obligation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of European integration. Through the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy, the European Commission has clearly highlighted the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to complete the legislative and strategic framework for adult education at all levels of governance,” said Adnan Husić.
The Director of the DVV International Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dženita Džano, highlighted: “Our vision is to build a system that enables every individual in Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve continuous personal development, social inclusion, and access to quality education throughout their entire life. Through cooperation with all levels of government, we strive to create a platform that will not be focused exclusively on economic needs, but will serve as a genuine driver of change and a guarantor of quality within the adult education system.”
The participation of educational authorities, competent ministries, employment and labour agencies, as well as other relevant partners, ensures that the Revised Strategic Platform will be implementable and aligned with real needs on the ground, recognising adult education as a vital and equal pillar of the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Professional moderation of the Working Group was entrusted to an Associate Professor, Amina Isanović Hadžiomerović, PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, thereby ensuring the scientific and methodological soundness of the document that redefines the role of adult education within the state.
The successful completion of this process signifies that Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to strengthen its democratic capacities and the intellectual potential of all its citizens through lifelong learning, with the support of European funds and international partners.