In order to involve different stakeholders in adult education, key people have been brought together for seminars in the six following counties: Valga, Ida-Viru, Põlva, Jõgeva, Lääne and Saare County.

137 key people in adult education attended the seminars altogether.

At the seminars representatives of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research introduced the updated European activity plan for adult education and the respective tendencies in Estonia. This was followed by an overview of the current state of adult education in the particular county provided by the representatives of the county education and culture authorities and Eesti Töötukassa (Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund), in case of Ida-Viru County by the County Governor.

The overviews were followed by the discussion which was aimed at providing a description of the particular target groups. When the target groups were determined, questions about how to motivate them and get the message through were posed.

Main types of target group

• Basic school dropouts aged over 17
• Long-term unemployed, not registered as unemployed any more
• Young mothers (aged 18 – 30)
• People with social background that does not encourage learning (due to inability, lack of skills and insufficient education)
• Middle-aged, 50+, employed
• People with addiction problems (gambling, alcohol, drugs, computer)
• Non-Estonian speaking population, new immigrants

The regional peculiarities of the target groups were also brought out.

Ways of reaching the target groups and motivating them

• Mapping the target groups
• Bringing people to learning through inclusive activities
• Providing dissemination and counselling services. Free personal counselling for employed adults
• Providing information about learning possibilities via different media, e.g. social media
• Individual approach, community influence
• Personal contact with the key people/leaders within the target group

Main problems

• Lack of precise information about the target group (number, problems, etc.)
• How to find out the information? Who should it be delivered to? Who should coordinate the process?
• Who should be the members of the network which will address the problem?
• What support do the people who approach the target group need?
• Employers could/should help, but they lack interest or are not aware of the problem.
• There is no regulation for monitoring people’s educational advancement
• Support system is non-existent.

Proposals:

• Mapping the target groups at local level.
• Establishment of the institution of the county coordinator who gathers information and coordinates cooperation between educational and training institutions, employers, communities, etc.
• Counselling people of target groups.
• Involvement of local governments with its divisions, county governments, educational and training institutions, Eesti Töötukassa, employers, NGOs, associations, etc.
• Promotion of networks, finding leaders and coordinators.
• Coordinated cooperation between different stakeholders of the region would help to solve problems. It is necessary to find resources.

The outcomes of the seminars are used in the follow-up seminars that take place in the local governments, in development of the concept of the learning bus and in the information dissemination mediated by the local newspapers.