Every two years since 2012, DVV International has hosted the Encuentro Andino, an international professional event for adult educators from countries in South and Central America. The theme of this year’s conference, which took place in Quito from 27 to 29 November 2018, was the role of adult education in the 2030 Agenda, with its 17 global sustainability goals. Within the framework of the meeting, DVV International signed two new cooperation agreements with partners in the Andean region.
The meeting brought together around 120 participants from Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador – including representatives from governments, civil society, universities and cross-regional networks.
In the run-up to the conference, the DVV International Regional Office for South America in Quito drew up an assessment for all six participating countries of the implementation of the educational goal (Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all). The focus was on adult education. At the same time, the role of education and adult education in implementing the other objectives of the Agenda was examined. The results were presented and discussed on the first day of the conference.
Utilising the potentials of adult education for sustainable development
On the second day, the participants had the opportunity to get to know four practical examples from the partner organisations of DVV International in Quito, and to delve into the question of how adult education, as a driving force, can promote the implementation of the various goals of the 2030 Agenda.
On day three, a panel consisting of representatives from DVV International, the CLADE Campaign for the Right to Education, the Latin American Adult Education Association CEAAL, the Latin American Network for Feminist Education REPEM, and the Colombian organisation ADC took a critical look at the 2030 Agenda. The panel members assessed the Agenda, with its objectives and indicators, as a useful tool for providing practical inspiration for the vision for sustainable development. They also noted that youth and adult education is already applying many good models in practice independently of them. From the point of view of the panelists, it has enormous potential to promote not only educational Goal 4, but all the goals of the 2030 Agenda.
The participants of the conference agreed that, in addition to formal education, non-formal youth and adult education is also a necessity in order to promote sustainable development. It needs to be given more consideration within state education policy and provided with sufficient resources. In addition, they proposed the development of specific indicators on adult learning for the goals of the 2030 Agenda, which should be continuously monitored and evaluated. Last but not least, they stressed the importance of the training of professionals involved in programmes, projects or actions related to the 2030 Agenda.
Two framework agreements signed to strengthen youth and adult education in the Andean region
In the context of the event, DVV International – represented by Regional Director Eva König – signed two new framework agreements: with the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI), which cooperates in Latin America with the education ministers of the individual countries, and with the still young UNAE (Universidad National de Educación in Ecuador). The agreements form the basis for future institutional cooperation, which will include various youth and adult education projects in the Andean region.
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