European, global and intercultural dimension in curriculum development

Where adult education takes place in schools and leads to achieving a level of education, the topics of internationalisation and global education are included in the curricula to the same extent as with other pupils. Otherwise, the inclusion of these topics into education is in the competence of the educational programme provider.

Adult education in Slovakia is coordinated by the State Institute of Vocational Education (Štátny inštitút odborného vzdelávania) – organisation directly managed by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic. ŠIOV mainly organises, initiates, and develops cooperation with national and international institutions, organisations, and experts in vocational education and training and adult education.
ŠIOV manages the following  EU initiatives in vocational education and training and adult education in Slovakia: 

• National coordination point for European qualification framework,
• National EUROPASS centre,
• National reference point for EQAVET,
• National support service  EPALE,
• National coordinator of the European adult education programme,
• National contact place for EuroSkills,
• National contact point for ECVET
• UNESCO-UNEVOC centre.

It is a member of the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN), European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET), EUROPEN, Association of Adult Education Institutions in Slovakia, European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA). It supports and develops young people’s talent in national and international competitions and manages the Slovak Centre of Practice Enterprise (Slovenské centrum cvičných firiem) as a part of the international Practice Enterprise Network PEN WORLDWIDE.

European issues are communicated by the European Commission Representation in Slovakia and the European Parliament Information Office, which also provide information on these issues.  European Information Centre, which organises various presentations and information activities is their joint activity. Similar activities in the area of education in EU issues are also performed by a network of Europe Direct information centres.

Organisers of other activities in the area of education in intercultural and global issues include various cultural institutions, and most of all non-governmental organisations. Socrates institute, which has been successfully run for several years by a non-profit organisation, is an interesting example in this area.

Intercultural and global issues are a part of lectures within some study programmes at universities of the third age.

Partnerships and networks

Erasmus+ partnerships

The Slovak Republic participates in the implementation of cooperation projects (strategic partnerships) in the Erasmus+ programme. They aim to increase the quality of the involved organisations’ activities and create capacities of international cooperation organisations. The creation of innovative methods and intensive work on common needs is expected as well. The length of the project is from 12 to 36 months and the project partnership must be comprised of at least 3 organisations from 3 different programme countries.

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Education (Cedefop)

Slovakia is a member of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Education (CEDEFOP), which helps to develop and implement EU vocational training policies. It monitors the development of the labour market and helps the European Commission, EU member states, employer organisations, and trade unions to harmonise vocational training provision with the labour market‘s needs. 

REFERNET Slovakia

ReferNet (European Network of Reference and Expertise) is an information network which collects, processes and disseminates information on the development of vocational education and training from all EU countries, Norway, and Iceland. ReferNet promotes information exchange and the creation of partnerships between organisations and experts interested in the development of vocational education and training. 

The national ReferNet coordinator in Slovakia is the Slovak National Observatory of Vocational Education and Training, which is a part of the State Institute of Vocational Education (Štátny inštitút odborného vzdelávania (ŠIOV).

European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network

The Slovak Republic is also engaged in the activities of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN). It aims to promote European cooperation of actors in the development of policies and lifelong guidance systems at the national level. The network was established in 2007 and is financially supported by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme. 

Programme of International Assessment of Adult Competences PIAAC

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic has been involved in the Programme of International Assessment of Adult Competences PIAAC since 2008. PIAAC is a program that identifies and assesses the level and division of competencies of adults in participating countries. It focuses on the key cognitive and occupational competencies necessary for a successful life in the society of the 21st century. It also provides information, analysis and evaluation of the causes and consequences of certain skills, as well as the use of ICT and the conditions for the development of reading and mathematical literacy of adults. PIAAC builds on the results of the PISA programme and allows the mapping of the components of functional literacy of the adult population between 16 - 64 years. The PIAAC programme is directed by the Management Board with the representation of all participating countries (Board of Participating Countries) and support of OECD Secretariat.

Central European Cooperation in Education for Lifelong Learning – CECE 

Central European cooperation in lifelong learning was established to build partnership between institutions and develop cooperation in education and vocational training between Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The partnership of these countries was confirmed by a joint Memorandum of Understanding in 2007 (Spoločné memorandum o porozumení). Participation of each country’s representatives deepens the regional relationships and promotes cooperation in building of European educational area. It is a platform for the exchange of opinions, good practices and professional knowledge in education and vocational training.

European Basic Skills Network

The Slovak Republic is a member of the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN), which is an association of institutions at the level of policymakers in the area of adult basic skills education.

The European Association for the Education of Adults

The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) is the voice of non-formal adult education in Europe. EAEA is a European NGO whose purpose is to link and represent European organisations directly involved in adult learning. EAEA promotes adult learning and access to and participation in non-formal adult education for all, particularly for groups currently under-represented.

Slovakia is represented by the Association of Adult Education Institutions (Asociácia inštitúcií vzdelávania dospelých). It associates institutions and natural persons who work in adult education and promotes their common interests in compliance with the needs of the whole society.