From 16 to 18 June 2026, Podgorica, Montenegro hosted the Eastern European Professional Forum on Adult Learning and Education (ALE). The Forum brought together 34 ALE experts, researchers, and representatives of think tanks and academia from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine.
This year's Forum aimed to strengthen participants' capacities in analysing ALE systems while fostering collaborative learning and the exchange of experiences among experts from across the region. To achieve this objective, discussions and activities focused on methodological approaches to ALE system development and analysis, as well as on pressing issues such as alternative models of ALE financing.
The Forum programme included keynotes by distinguished international experts, country delegation presentations, a panel discussion, and workshops and a professional exchange session with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro.
The first day of the event was opened by a knowledge-sharing session, in frame of which Paolo Federighi, renowned ALE expert and honorary professor of the University of Florence, and Ada Zakrzewska, Labour Market Economist from the OECD provided their keynote speeches. Afterwords, the moderator of the event Katarina Popovic, Professor at the Department of Andragogy, University of Belgrade, invited the speakers and additionally also Prof. (H) Dr. Heribert Hinzen for an Expert panel session to deepen their theses and to interact with participants.
The programme continued with presentations by country delegations on the current state of art of their national ALE systems. Each presentation was followed by a discussion session, allowing participants to ask questions, exchange perspectives, and compare developments in their respective countries.
On the second day, participants continued presenting and discussing their national ALE systems. Afterwards, Sonja Belete, DVV International’s Regional Director for South Asia and author of the Adult Learning and Education System Building Approach (ALESBA), introduced participants to this methodology, with particular emphasis on Phase Two – Assessment and Diagnosis. Participants noted that the approach was new to many of them and highlighted both its complexity and flexibility.
The second part of the day included a visit to the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro. The participants were hosted by representatives of the Ministry of Education. Jasna Jovanović, General Director of the Directorate for Lifelong Learning, introduced guests to the ALE-system of Montenegro. Participants also learned about the work of the Examination Centre of the host country and the activities of one of the leading ALE-providers at national level (“General Assembly”).
The final day focused on the ALE system analysis framework presented by Prof. (H) Dr. Heribert Hinzen. Participants worked in groups to reflect on the proposed framework and suggested adjustments based on their national context and professional experiences. The concluding session was dedicated to identifying country-specific priorities for ALE system analysis and defining the key themes of the future expert papers that each delegation will prepare. These papers are expected to support advocacy and lobby efforts of DVV International and partners at the national level.
The Forum served as a platform for capacity building and professional exchange. It also marked the beginning of a broader analytical process that will result in the development of expert papers.
This event was organised as part of the Continental Exchange Project 'Europe' and financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).