Context
Despite the vigorous development of andragogy methodology, there is still a lack of research tools typical for this field. Andragogy uses tools from related fields, mainly from psychology. Such a solution is not satisfactory firstly because many tools have limited access, and secondly, they are not specific to andragogic issues. There are no tools that can be used to study the needs of adult education organisations and the educational needs of their employees. Such tools, on the other hand, would significantly improve the education process and indicate the directions of development of this type of organisation. The aim of the NEON project is firstly: to identify such needs and secondly: to develop tools that can be used by other researchers. What is important, the fact that the research will be conducted in different countries, not only in the consortium countries, guarantees the obtained results will be symptomatic for the European Adult Education (AE) sector.
The analysis of the results will focus both on the identification of the needs of the organisation and staff and on the comparison of these needs in the different countries and in the different types of adult education institutions. In addition, correlations between the reported needs of institutions and the needs of staff will be analysed.
The analysis of the results will focus both on the identification of the needs of the organisation and staff and on the comparison of these needs in the different countries and in the different types of adult education institutions. In addition, correlations between the reported needs of institutions and the needs of staff will be analysed.
Objectives
The project address the situation of adult education offer by:
- identifying adult education information and trends, including the development of offer and faced difficulties
- identifying training needs and skills shortages
- establishing the number and profile of adult education providers
- identifying the range of AE offer
- providing AE stakeholders with information to aid needs identification and improvement of the organisational offer
- provide individuals (AE staff) with information to help develop their careers
- supporting AE providers with information on staff and learners needs
- supporting national and European decision-makers with policy recommendations.
Outcomes
The main tangible products are:
- Report on the AE stakeholders needs (project Intellectual Output, 5 languages)
- Report on the policy recommendation on the basis of the IO created
- Needs questionnaires
- 3 newsletters
- Information leaflets in English and consortium partner languages
- Posters in national languages and English
- 1 academic paper
- evaluation reports.
- New methods of needs analysis acquired by staff participating in the project, sharing experiences and best practices at the transnational level;
- An increased culture of communication, competence, and skills for teachers, trainers, managers, and front line staff are not directly involved in the project.
- Exchange of ideas and good practices
- Experience gained by individuals
- Meetings of local stakeholder committees and related reports and memoranda of understanding
- An internal and external communication plan to the partnership, based on online bulletins, newsletters, articles, social media, networks, etc.
- Local focus groups carried out during the implementation of the project activities, involving other organisations/operators other than partner organisations
- Local seminars/ workshops and conferences.