Representatives of the Ministry participated in conference in Bratislava

Within the DEV-CLEinMNE project, representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation participated in a cluster meeting and an international conference held in Bratislava, Slovakia, from 15 to 16 October 2025. The event, titled “Beyond the Classroom: Alternative Spaces for Adult Education”, was organised by the State Institute of Vocational Education and the National Coordinator for Adult Education in Slovakia, bringing together participants from various European countries working in the field of adult learning.

The pre-conference cluster meeting focused on innovative learning spaces for adults, offering an opportunity to exchange experiences, present examples of good practice and strengthen cooperation. Presentations delivered by experts from countries such as the Czech Republic and Cyprus highlighted community-based learning initiatives and innovative approaches used to make adult education more accessible and relevant to contemporary society. Participants also visited the premises of the National Bank of Slovakia, where they were introduced to approaches to financial literacy training for adults.

The main conference gathered national coordinators, university experts, researchers, practitioners and representatives of civil society organisations. Discussions emphasised that adult education is increasingly shifting beyond traditional classrooms and moving into communities, workplaces, public institutions and, especially, digital spaces. Special attention was devoted to community education as a “second chance” for individuals who previously had limited access to learning opportunities, particularly marginalised groups and single parents.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange and understanding the diverse levels of development of adult education across Europe. The insights gained during the event will contribute to further improving inclusive, innovative and flexible learning environments in Montenegro. This project is funded by the European Union.