Skills development and use strategy in Slovenia has entered the second phase

In 2015, Slovenia entered into the project Skills Development and Use Strategy to strengthen the collaboration of different policy-makers (ministries), stakeholders and social partners. The project is based on the adult education questions opened by the results of the PIAAC survey. The process is guided by the OECD methodology and financed by the European Commission in 80%.

Phase 1 – Skills strategy diagnostic took place between January 2016 and June 2017. The results were published in the Final Skills Strategy Diagnostic Report for Slovenia, which defines nine challenges. This phase included 120 representatives of 100 different organisations.

We entered into the Phase 2 – Action planning in collaboration with nine ministries (Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Interior) and the Government Office of the RS for Development and European Cohesion Policy. We reviewed the process of adult education management in Slovenia. The process includes social partners (workers’ unions, different chambers, associations), local communities, adult education providers (public and private), professional associations in the field, non-governmental organisations, etc. The OECD experts prepared the methodology for the review, collaboration and formal and non-formal collaboration structures. The two-day workshop which was held in the offices of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and in the National Museum in Ljubljana resulted in the first draft of suggestions for improvement of adult education management in Slovenia. In May, we improved these suggestions at eight structured guided discussions with different representatives. After the June discussion in Ljubljana, we created three groups in the scope of nine events, which are responsible for a total of eight suggested activities for improvement of adult education management in Slovenia on all levels, from the national level to collaboration with stakeholders and local organs.

The first presentation is planned for October, at the Annual Adult Education Conference, and the final publication for November 2018. The next fundamental goal is to formulate measures that will target both the final users – adult learners – and their needs for improved quality of life, and the social activities and economic development.