Professional development of adult educators in the light of new professionalism
Nowadays the professionalism is considered a sign of adult learning and education’s (ALE) quality and efficiency, because it reduces the number of mistakes made in the process of planning and teaching. Therefore we’ve been witnessing the intensified efforts to professionalize ALE and to strengthen adult educators’ professional development, although the question of how to professionalize such a wide and diverse field remains hidden. In the ALE field, the recent focus has been placed on the “new professionalism” perspective, which emphasizes the importance of professional behavior in practice. In the master’s thesis we study various professionalization processes in Slovenia on three levels: national, organizational and individual. Analysis at the national level involves discussing national educational policy and legislative framework which support professionalization of ALE. At the organizational level we are identifying and discussing key professional organizations and their contributions towards professionalization of ALE and adult educators’ professional development. At the individual level we study adult educators, their (continuing) professional development and their professional identity. We note that the coherent procedures at all three levels are crucial to achieving quality professionalization of ALE in Slovenia: (1) At the national level professionalization is strengthened through national policies and systemic regulation of the field. (2) At the organizational level adult educators’ professional development is supported in professional adult education organizations. (3) At the individual level attention is brought to adult educators’ adequate expertise, competence and their professional identity. In an effort to strengthen the professionalization of adult education in Slovenia, some good practices and solutions have been established at all three levels; however, at each level we also identify certain shortcomings and necessary improvements.
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