In accordance with the Adult Education Act (OG 144/2021) and implementing regulations, adult education takes the form of formal, non-formal and informal learning.

Formal adult education programmes in Croatia are primarily implemented in secondary schools and higher education institutions that offer part-time study opportunities. These programmes lead to officially recognised qualifications. The majority of formal education programmes focus on vocational education and training, while general adult education is less represented, mainly through primary adult education and secondary general education programmes.

Non-formal education and lifelong learning include a wide range of learning opportunities that do not necessarily lead to formal qualifications, but contribute to professional and personal development. These programmes are offered by public institutions, private organisations, NGOs, and community learning centers. Examples include digital skills training, language courses, entrepreneurship education, and cultural literacy. Funding for these programmes often comes from state funds, the European Social Fund (ESF), or partnerships with the private sector.

Informal learning is an unorganised activity of acquiring competencies from everyday experiences and other influences and sources from the environment for personal, social, and professional needs. It takes the form of workplace learning and employer-led training. Workplace learning initiatives, supported by employers and public funding, enable employees to acquire new competencies relevant to their work roles. Some of these initiatives are subsidised through national lifelong learning strategies and active employment policies.

According to the Act, adult education programmes include programmes at levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 4.1 and 4.2 and at level 5 of the CROQF in the part relating to vocational specialist training, namely: 

• education programme for the acquisition and assessment of sets of learning outcomes, including sets of learning outcomes of basic skills
• education programme for the acquisition of a partial qualification and
• education programme for the acquisition of a full qualification.

Education programmes for the acquisition of a partial qualification include:

• training − partial qualifications acquired at levels 2, 3 and 4 of the CROQF, accessed at least from level 1
• professional development − partial qualifications acquired at level 4 of the CROQF, accessed at least from the same level
• vocational specialist training partial qualifications acquired at level 5 of the CROQF in the part relating to vocational specialist training, accessed at least from level 4.1.

Provision to raise achievement in basic skills 

Primary Adult Education

In Croatia, the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the basic skills of adults is achieved through several publicly funded initiatives. One of the key programmes is "Primary Adult Education", which enables the acquisition of basic literacy skills, mathematical skills and the basics of digital literacy. The programme was launched by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, and is financed from the state budget and the European Social Fund.

The most common providers of these programmes are public open universities, adult education centers and other authorised institutions. The programme is primarily intended for people over 15 years of age who have not completed primary education or have a low level of literacy and computer skills. The duration of the programme varies depending on the needs of the participants, but usually consists of 120 to 250 hours of instruction, which may also include online modules to increase flexibility. Upon completion of the programme, participants receive an officially recognised certificate that can be used for further education or to increase employability.

Curriculum for the development of basic adult skills

The Curriculum for the development of basic adult skills (digital, mathematical and reading literacy) was prepared in 2019, and implementation began in 2023 in accordance with EU recommendations and new legal frameworks. The programme is intended for people with a low level of functional literacy and is implemented through accredited adult education institutions.

The programme is modular and flexible and can be adapted to the individual needs of the participants. The duration of the programme depends on the participants' previous competencies, and upon completion, a certificate of acquired skills is issued.

In August 2024, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia adopted the Curriculum for the Acquisition of Andragogical Competencies for Teaching Basic Skills in Adult Education. This 55-hour programme is designed for teachers and leaders in adult education with the aim of improving their andragogical, didactic and methodological skills necessary for the effective teaching of basic skills such as reading, writing, mathematics and digital competencies. The programme is being implemented from the academic year 2024/2025 and is aligned with level 7.1 of the Croatian Qualifications Framework.

Provision to achieve a recognised qualification during adulthood 

In Croatia, adults have several options for acquiring a formally recognised qualification, whether it is through completing interrupted education or through professional development and reskilling. These programmes provide adults, especially those who did not acquire a qualification during initial education, with the opportunity to improve their competencies and better integrate into the labour market.

Adult education programmes in secondary schools enable adults to complete primary and secondary education, and acquire certificates and diplomas equivalent to those from the regular education system. These programmes are most often implemented by secondary schools that have verified adult education programmes, and are financed through state funds, local units and, in some cases, the European Social Fund (ESF+).

In addition, adults can acquire vocational qualifications through training and professional development programmes, which are implemented by licensed adult education institutions and vocational schools. These programmes are often of short duration (from a few months to a year) and allow participants to acquire competencies in specific sectors, such as hospitality, healthcare, IT and crafts. Upon completion of the programme, participants receive a certificate or professional qualification that is aligned with the Croatian Qualifications Framework (CROQF) and can be recognised in the labour market.

Provision targeting the transition to the labour market 

In Croatia, adult education plays a significant role in supporting unemployed jobseekers in their transition to the labour market. The provision of education and training for this target group is primarily organised through public financial mechanisms, including initiatives run by the Croatian Employment Service (CES) and other state programmes. Training for the unemployed is provided through a combination of public vocational education institutions, private education providers selected through competitive tendering procedures and employers involved in workforce development initiatives.

Unemployed jobseekers in Croatia have access to publicly subsidised education and training through various active labour market policies. Although there is no general legal obligation for all unemployed people to participate in education and training, certain target groups – such as the long-term unemployed or those with low qualifications – may be required to engage in specific educational activities in order to retain benefits.

One of the key programmes targeting unemployed jobseekers is the Education for Employment Programme, which has been operational for several years under the management of the CES. Its primary goal is to improve the employability of jobseekers by providing skills aligned with labour market needs. The programme is financed by the state budget and the European Social Fund (ESF+), ensuring wide availability of educational opportunities in different sectors. Training is provided by accredited vocational education institutions and licensed private providers, selected through public procurement.

The Education for Employment Programme offers courses of varying duration, usually lasting from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the field of education and the required competencies. To increase flexibility, the programme includes modular learning approaches and in some cases allows for the recognition of prior learning. Upon completion of the programme, participants receive certificates that can be aligned with the Croatian Qualifications Framework (CROQF), usually at levels 2 to 4, depending on the training programme. In recent years, thousands of unemployed people have participated in these programmes, and CES statistics show that around 10,000 beneficiaries attend these trainings annually. 

In addition to structured vocational training, jobseekers can also participate in digital skills programmes, foreign language courses and entrepreneurship training aimed at encouraging self-employment. These initiatives are often co-financed by European funds and aligned with national strategies for workforce development and economic competitiveness.

Provision of liberal (popular) adult education 

In Croatia, liberal adult education is implemented through non-formal learning focused on personal development and cultural enrichment. This type of education is implemented by public institutions, private organisations, cultural centers, and non-governmental organisations. However, unlike some European countries where it is systematically subsidised, in Croatia it is mainly financed through projects and occasional public grants.

The goals of liberal adult education are aligned with the principles of lifelong learning and include improving cultural literacy, encouraging creativity, and promoting civic engagement. Public open universities have played a key role in this sector, offering non-formal education programmes such as language courses, creative arts, music, literature, and information technology. Other common providers include community centers, libraries, and museums.

Funding for these programmes comes from a variety of sources, including local or national subsidies, project grants, EU funds, and private contributions, such as tuition fees. This diverse financial structure often leads to variability in the availability and continuity of programmes. The programmes are open to all adults without strict enrolment requirements, and their duration varies from short workshops to courses that last for several months.

Other types of publicly subsidised provision for adult learners 

The Civil Servants Act (OG 155/2023) stipulates that all civil servants are obliged to participate in organised professional training and development programmes to which they are referred by a state body. This type of education is regulated by the  Decree on Forms, Modalities and Conditions for Training and Education of Civil Servants. The programmes are financed from the state budget.

The programmes are in the areas of public management, EU programmes, public procurement, human resources management and public policies. There are a series of special programmes. These are often programmes for strengthening IT competencies, respect for human rights and ethical dimensions of action. The training of officers who disseminate knowledge (train the trainer) is also important.

Programmes may be common and specific. Common training programmes are intended for all civil servants, regardless of the body in which they are employed. Specific programmes are intended exclusively for civil servants employed by the same state body. Programmes have very different durations (from 1 to 7 days).

Training programmes are typically organised by the National School of Public Administration and the Department for state exam, professional training and development at the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation. The National School of Public Administration is under the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation. Education is conducted on the basis of the Training Plan for Civil Servants, adopted annually by the Government of the Republic of Croatia at the proposal of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation. Special programmes can be independently organised by departmental bodies of the state administration.

After the completion of the programme, no public document is issued, but the knowledge acquired by the learners for conducting administrative procedures is recorded.