On 9 July 2025, DVV International Moldova, in partnership with the European Training Foundation (ETF), organised a webinar titled “Adult Learning Progress and Development in Candidate and Neighbouring Countries: A Governance Perspective.”
The aim of the webinar was to facilitate mutual learning and regular exchange in the field of Adult Learning and Education (ALE) between stakeholders from governmental institutions, civil society organisations, and academia in Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine and other countries of the region.
The event brought together 90 participants, including policy- and decision-makers, civil society activists, representatives of higher education institutions and think tanks, as well as ALE providers from public, private, and NGO sectors across the participating countries.
The webinar was moderated by Siria Taurelli, Human Capital Development Expert at ETF, and Levan Kvatchadze, Regional Director of DVV International’s Eastern Neighbours Office.
Following opening remarks, Siria Taurelli provided a concise overview of the EU’s new strategy for Adult Learning and Education – “Union of Skills.” She outlined the policy's goals, underlying motivations, core pillars, and implementation framework.
The central part of the webinar focused on success stories from the field, showcasing practical ALE initiatives supported by local public authorities.
Daniela Munca-Aftenev, Deputy Head at General Directorate on Education, Youth and Sport at Chișinău City Hall, shared the experience of the CMIEA – ALE center in Chișinău, Moldova, highlighting its focus on employment and social skills development. The center was founded in 2023 with the financial support of DVV International in the capital of Moldova and now provided its services for 6000 beneficiaries. There were 68 courses on various thematics provided in the center. The expert emphasized the importance of personalization of learning paths as a best practice to foster retention and motivation of learners. The “Employment for Everyone” initiative, launched by CMIEA in coordination with DVV International this year gives to the unemployed individuals opportunity to choose three courses they consider relevant for the career they want, and at the finalization the center’s staff monitor their employment, providing necessary consultative support.
Victor Sikalenko, Director of the Municipal Institution of the Mycolaiv City Council “Mycolaiv Development Agency”, explained an approach of the city in pushing of lifelong learning in the community. He presented the case of the NGO “SOUTH” – ALE center in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, which plays a vital role in economic and social recovery, fostering critical thinking, and strengthening democratic values in the context of armed conflict. The beneficiaries of the center are women, veterans, internally displaced people, and people with disabilities. The center provides various activities based on their needs and fostering their social and economic inclusion: programs for upskilling and reskilling for women, psychosocial support sessions, civic education and peacebuilding programs, digital skills courses, entrepreneurship bootcamps. It is also important to note that ALE activities play a significant role in the region’s economy. In particular, women are increasingly entering professions traditionally dominated by men — such as public transport drivers — helping to fill workforce gaps caused by male mobilization during the war times.
Both experts also shared key challenges encountered in practice, such as limited funding, quality issues of educational offers, and staff shortages.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session, facilitated by the webinar moderators, providing space for in-depth reflections and peer learning. The participants could address their questions directly and via chat, what increased the time efficiency of the session. The experts commented on the questions and provided their suggestions.
In conclusion, Lisa Rustico introduced the ETF Stakeholder Mapping Initiative on ALE Governance, which aims to build a solid knowledge base to support network creation and strategic collaboration in this field.
At the end the facilitators announced the activities, which could be useful and interesting for the audience, planned for the September-November 2025 period by DVV International.
This webinar served to raise awareness among diverse public and private actors about effective ALE practices, current challenges, and innovative governance approaches. Participants gained valuable insights into governance contributions to employment, social inclusion, wellbeing, and democracy of the citizens through adult learning and education centers.
This event was organized as part of the Continental Exchange Project 'Europe', which is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in collaboration with European Training Foundation (ETF).