From 16 to 18 June 2026, the Eastern European Professional Forum on Adult Learning and Education (ALE) was held in Podgorica, Montenegro. At the invitation of DVV International, the Forum brought together more than 30 ALE experts, researchers, and representatives of think tanks and academia from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine.
This year's Forum aimed to strengthen participants' capacities to analyse adult learning and education systems while fostering professional exchange among experts from across the region. Discussions and activities focused on methodological approaches to adult learning and education system development and analysis, as well as on pressing issues, including alternative models of ALE financing.
Programme highlights and expert exchange
The programme included keynotes by internationally renowned experts, presentations by the country delegations, a panel discussion, workshops, and a professional exchange with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro.
The first day began with a keynotes by Paolo Federighi, ALE expert and honorary professor at the University of Florence, and Ada Zakrzewska, Labour Market Economist at the OECD. Afterwards, Katarina Popovic, Professor at the Department of Andragogy, University of Belgrade, moderated a panel discussion in which the key messages were explored further and discussed with participants.
The programme continued with presentations by the country delegations on the current state of their national ALE systems. Each presentation was followed by a discussion session, allowing participants to ask questions, exchange perspectives, and compare developments in their respective countries.
On the second day, Sonja Belete, DVV International's Regional Director for South Asia and author of the Adult Learning and Education System Building Approach (ALESBA), introduced the ALESBA methodology, with particular emphasis on Phase Two – Assessment and Diagnosis. Participants noted that the approach was new to many of them and highlighted both its flexibility and methodological complexity.
Afterwards, the participants visited the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, where they were welcomed by representatives of the Ministry of Education. Jasna Jovanović, General Director of the Directorate for Lifelong Learning, introduced the guests to Montenegro's ALE system.
From system analysis to future action
The final day focused on the ALE system analysis framework presented by Prof. (H) Dr. Heribert Hinzen. Participants worked in groups to reflect on the proposed analytical framework and developed recommendations for its further refinement based on their national contexts and professional experience.
The concluding session was dedicated to identifying country-specific priorities for ALE system analysis and defining the key themes of the future expert papers that each delegation will prepare. These papers are expected to support the advocacy and lobbying efforts of DVV International and its partners at the national level.
The Forum provided a platform for capacity building, professional exchange, and regional networking. It also marked the beginning of a broader analytical process that will result in the development of country-specific expert papers.
The event was organised as part of the European Continental Exchange Project by DVV International and financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).