Professionalisation in adult learning and education: Shaping the future of ALE in Uganda

From international competencies to local practice

To ensure that the course would respond to the realities of adult education in Uganda, a training needs assessment was conducted in 2025 among CDOs and other ALE practitioners working with non-governmental organisations.

The findings revealed a significant need for professional development: 90 per cent of the ALE practitioners interviewed reported lacking knowledge and training in the field. At the same time, the assessment identified a strong interest in opportunities to strengthen their professional knowledge and skills.

Building on these findings, the Master Trainers used the Curriculum globALE competency framework as a starting point and contextualised it by reviewing the official job descriptions and person specifications for CDOs. This process helped to ensure that the curriculum addressed both identified learning needs and the professional requirements of practitioners working within Uganda’s local government structures.

The modular course combines internationally recognised competencies with relevant content, practical learning tools and approaches suited to the country’s adult learning and community education programmes.

Its learner-centred, experience-based methodology encourages participants to draw on their existing knowledge, reflect on their professional experiences and apply new learning to their daily work. A particular highlight is the individual change-making project, through which each participant demonstrates how newly acquired knowledge and skills can be translated into practical action in a real-life setting.

By connecting professional learning with workplace practice, the course aims to ensure that training goes beyond the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and contributes to meaningful improvements in the delivery of adult learning and community education.

Testing the approach and preparing for national rollout

Before its wider implementation, the ALCE Professional Course was piloted over three months to assess the relevance of its content, teaching methods and learning approaches.

Fifteen Community Development Officers completed the pilot. Their evaluations indicated that they had gained knowledge and skills relevant to their daily responsibilities and professional practice, providing encouraging feedback on the course’s practical value.

Building on this experience, preparations were made to establish the capacity needed for delivery across Uganda. Fifteen trainers were selected based on their professional and training backgrounds, with attention to regional representation. The group included District Community Development Officers and personnel from Nsamizi Training Institute’s regional training centres.

The trainers completed an intensive ten-day Training of Trainers programme, preparing them to deliver the ALCE Professional Course and support the development of professional competencies among adult educators in different parts of the country.

The initiative was welcomed by Mr Ocaki Samuel, DCDO of Zombo District and National Chairperson of DCDOs in Uganda, during the award ceremony for participants who completed the Training of Trainers course at Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development.

He highlighted the course’s importance in addressing a critical gap in professional training and removing a major obstacle to implementing the revised job requirements. His remarks reflected a wider challenge faced by many Community Development Officers, who play a frontline role in adult learning and community education but have had limited access to specialised professional training in the field.

Investing in the future of adult learning and education

The ALCE Professional Course represents more than the introduction of a new training programme. It is a practical contribution to the broader professionalisation of adult learning and education in Uganda.

By combining an internationally recognised competency framework with national policy priorities, identified training needs and the realities of community development work, the course provides a structured foundation for strengthening the knowledge, skills and professional practice of adult educators.

The partnership between DVV International, the MGLSD, Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development and Makerere University also demonstrates the importance of collaboration in developing sustainable approaches to professional development. By bringing together institutional expertise and practical experience, the partners have laid the groundwork for a course that responds to the needs of practitioners and the requirements of the national ALE system.

As the programme moves towards wider implementation, it offers an important opportunity to strengthen the capacity of Community Development Officers and other adult learning practitioners to support meaningful learning experiences within their communities.

Ultimately, investing in the professional development of adult educators is an investment in the quality and relevance of adult learning itself. The ALCE Professional Course marks an important step towards a more professional, responsive and effective adult learning and community education sector in Uganda - one that is better equipped to meet the learning needs of adults and contribute to community development.