Twenty Years of Partnership for Strengthening Adult Education in the Construction Sector

Asmira Demir, Director of the Secondary School of Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sarajevo, has been collaborating with DVV International – Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina for twenty years. His statement reflects a long-standing joint effort on projects that have advanced adult education, particularly in the context of the construction profession. Below, we share his reflection on the importance of this cooperation and the role of adult education in developing a qualified workforce.

This year marks a full twenty years of my cooperation with DVV International – Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflected through joint projects in the field of adult education. Back in 2005, as a representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I participated in the project Oral History in the Classroom, organized by DVV.

Since then, numerous projects have followed, focusing on vocational training for adults across various programs, all aimed at empowering individuals and improving their competitiveness in the labor market. I will mention just a few of the training programs: facade mason, painter-decorator, drywall installer, technical draftsman in AutoCAD, geodetic operator.

I also participated in numerous conferences focused on adult education, among which I particularly highlight Management in Adult Education.

Adult education plays an extremely important role in the labor market for the construction profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the context of increasing demand for qualified labor, modernization of the sector, and alignment with European standards.

The construction sector in BiH faces a serious shortage of qualified workers such as masons, carpenters, tilers, and steel fixers. Many young people are leaving the country, and the formal education system cannot compensate for these losses quickly enough. Adult education enables rapid and flexible retraining and upskilling.

Through the adoption of modern technologies and working methods, the construction industry is rapidly modernizing (e.g., the introduction of digitalization, energy efficiency, green building). Adults who previously worked using outdated methods can acquire new knowledge and competencies through adult education programs, in line with technological advancements.

A large number of workers in the construction sector in BiH work without formal qualifications, which makes them vulnerable in the labor market and limits their mobility both domestically and abroad.

Unlike traditional education, adult education is more focused on practical skills, which is ideal for responding quickly to changing labor market needs.

A qualified and trained workforce directly affects the quality of construction work, the efficiency of project implementation, and the attraction of investors, which in the long term contributes to sector growth and the economic development of the country.

The significance of the cooperation between DVV International and the Secondary School of Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sarajevo is multifaceted. I will list just a few aspects:

• Thanks to successfully completed training, a number of participants found employment
• Course participants had the opportunity for retraining, which enabled them to secure better positions in job competitions
• The school received technical equipment important for improving the teaching process
• The school gained new experiences in adult education
• The school received financial support that enabled the purchase of materials and tools necessary for conducting practical training for third-level occupations

Teachers had the opportunity to participate in regional projects that helped them understand new trends in teaching and the entire educational process, as well as to contribute to curriculum development for adult education and the role of management in working with adults

I believe that adult education is extremely important for the further growth and development of individuals, who, through participation in projects aimed at empowering people through lifelong learning, strengthen their professional capacities.