Adult education in Georgia

DVV International, the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association (DVV), supports projects worldwide, provides expertise and is committed to improving the framework conditions for adult learning and education through global lobbying. During a recent field trip to Georgia Julia von Westerholt, director of the German Adult Education Association (DVV), and Uwe Gartenschlaeger, head of DVV International, got to know DVV International’s work in the Caucasus region first hand. In an interview the two describe their impressions.

Mrs. von Westerholt, what was the purpose of your visit to Georgia?

Julia von Westerholt: For me getting to know our international work on site was long-overdue. When I started working at DVV during the first Corona lockdown in April 2020, visiting abroad was not possible. So it was good, to finally take this field trip and I dare say it won't be my last!

During my visit to our regional office and 4 of the 15 adult education centers, that we support in Georgia, I experienced a few things, that I didn’t expect. The mission of adult education centers, the important role of communal meeting spaces, the importance of low-threshold access to education and the great opportunities, that lifelong learning offers – the importance of these principles was emphasized for me. The question, of why access to safe educational spaces and meeting places is so enormously important, especially in times of crisis, was constantly answering itself in the work I saw.

Mr. Gartenschlaeger, what are the greatest challenges for adult education in Georgia at the moment. 

Uwe Gartenschlaeger: Georgia has changed drastically in the last few decades, which affects the world of work, but also people’s social and personal life. This created a great need for training opportunities, but outside of the capital there is hardly any supply. Changing this is difficult, given the almost non-existent support by state or local entities, caused by a lack of understanding of the importance of continuing education. Recently the political situation has developed in a way, that is making civic education and civic engagement, which are central to adult education, even more difficult.

What does the work of DVV International in Georgia look like?

Gartenschlaeger: The focus of our commitment is to support fifteen local adult education centers. They are spread across all regions and have been set up by local partners based on the model of adult education centers in Germany. Mostly set in structurally weak small- and medium-sized towns, they offer a wide range of services tailored to people's needs, ranging from professional qualifications to civic education to cultural and creative courses. At the national level, we are working with our partners to ensure stronger legal protection and support for adult education by the Georgian state.

During your visit to Georgia, you did not only visit a few of the adult education centers, DVV International has set up with it’s partners, but also met with politicians. What was the intend of these talks?

von Westerholt: Talking with politicians and government officials is equally important at home and abroad. That became clear to me again on this trip. To successfully advocate for continuing education and lifelong learning, we need to collaborate with the relevant actors at all levels of government and administration. In Georgia we were able to speak with the mayors of the municipalities, the adult education centers are set in, and we also met with the deputy minister of Education. And we also had a fruitful conversation with the umbrella organization of the Georgian Adult Education Network.

What was interesting to me was the fact, that – just like i with our national tasks here in Germany – one of their key-objectives is to advocate for adult education to be recognized as an independent and relevant pillar in the education system. It is in particular with regard to this goal that we received special recognition for our work in Georgia during our conversation with the German ambassador, whom   we got to know as a true fan of the German “Volkshochschule”.

What do you take away from this “look outside the national box”?

von Westerholt: Due to the current political situation in the country, our Georgian partners are facing additional tremendous challenges. One might be tempted to regard our advocacy work in Germany  as“luxury problems” in comparison. But, of course, that does not make them any less important. An experience like this field trip only highlights how relevant the mission of “education for everyone – everywhere” is. We are committed to ensuring that everyone around the world has access to education. We want to adult education and learning and, in particular, make adult education centers fit for the future. This is not without challenges or dangers, especially abroad and especially today, but a highly relevant mission for everyone who works in this field.

About the work of DVV International in Georgia

DVV International has been active in Georgia since 2002 and has had a regional office in the capital Tbilisi since 2012. Since 2016, all work in the Caucasus region has been coordinated from here as a regional office. The work is financed with funds from the BMZ, the Federal Foreign Office and the EU.

Together with civil society partner organizations, DVV International has set up adult education centers in all regions of Georgia in recent years based on the German adult education center model. These provide a holistic, needs-based and affordable educational offering for various target groups and are in many cases the only contact points for further training for the adult population in these regions. DVV International supports the Georgian adult education centers in the development of their course program as well as in the qualification of management and teachers. The goal is for them to develop into innovative, creative and flexible institutions for local citizens and receive more funding from the municipalities.

Unlike in Germany, adult education in Georgia is not recognized as an independent educational sector. Only the area of ​​continuing vocational training receives state support. In its work, DVV International therefore focuses particularly on raising awareness among the general public and politicians about the potential of adult education for fair and sustainable development.

In recent years there has been intensive cooperation with the Ministry of Education in opening the country's vocational training institutions to adult target groups, especially in the area of ​​career orientation and in the further training of teachers. Other topics of cooperation include anchoring adult education and its financing in legislation as well as discussing strategies in the area of ​​adult education and lifelong learning.