2019-2021

Adult Educator's role 2020+

KA1 Erasmus+ project

The adult educators take part in in-service trainings in Italy, Malta, UK, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, France and Slovenia. According to the participants' learning needs the following spheres are selected for the topics of mobilities:

1. Adult education 2020+: approaches in adult education in 21st century, mentoring and tutoring, working with low educated people, supporting adult learners with cooking, creativity, innovation, motivation and new methods, cooperation and conflict management, nonviolent communication, neuroeducation, gamefication, professional orientation.

2. Development of core competences necessary for educating people: self-management, leadership, fluency in English, effective communication and public speaking, emotional intelligence, digital competence.
Development programme of international cooperation for our consortium is connected with the fact that in Estonia we are working on new strategic documents (Estonia 2035, Education 2035, etc.).

We see the role of adult educators 2020+ as a provider of individual coaching, mentor and tutor, expert, inspiring support, creator of a learning environment, who helps develop connections and form values.

The project objectives are:
- to organise at least 22 mobilities on the topic of "Adult educator's role 2020+";
- to support development of the participants core competences and their implementation in professional activities (fluency in English, intercultural competence, communication, learning to learn);
- to support development of Ida-Virumaa adult educators' network;
-to provoke discussions on the topic of "Adult education 2020+" and to find solutions, which support modernisation and development of adult education;
- to contribute to development of sustainable community in Estonia.
All the mobilities are individual. The project participants have been selected at the stage of the project preparation.
The project participants' common expected outcomes are educator's changed role, usage of new methods, materials and activities, improved fluency in English, new partners for further international work, development of key competences.

The project results:

1. 15 adult educators took part in international mobilities and improved their professional and key competences;
2. 7 organisations took part in the project and sent their employees for the trainings abroad;
3. Ida-Virumaa adult educators improved and strengthened their cooperation (proved by their feedback and new initiatives);
4. The project participants shared their experiences and best practices of their trainings as well as inspiration with at least 34 adult educators participating in Connector on December, 15th 2021;
5. Vestifex team learnt to work and organise international mobilities in pandemic times, when the situation with the participants and programmes was changing all the time. This result wasn't planned in the project.
6. The participating educators implemented their new knowledge in their teaching: non-violent communication, drama, public speaking, facilitation, tools and methods of adult education, conflict management, etc.

Project coordinator: Vestifex Adult Learning Centre, www.vestifex.ee
Project partner organisations in Ida-Virumaa:
PSÜHHOLOOGILISE ABI KESKUS ARIADNA
MTÜ Tugi- ja Koolituskeskus USALDUS
Mittetulundusühing Rahvusvaheline Arengukeskus ITC Professional Development
MITTETULUNDUSUHING VITATIIM
Pilates&Koolitused OÜ
SOLJUKS OÜ

Participants' feedback:

It was an opportunity to really put aside all other processes, focus on yourself and your studies. There was no need to rush anywhere, to be responsible for family and work issues. What did this training give me? Of course, people. Those who have chosen the same topic as me are like-minded people. A sense of belonging and conversations in "the same language", because the topic is common, even though everyone's native languages are different.

Valeria Lavrova

Thank you for the very good project, where I was able to meet wonderful people who are passionate about their work and activities from different countries of Europe. I really hope that we will be able to continue our cooperation with them within the framework of our own courses, which we organize. It was a great experience, an unforgettable experience to
meet and communicate with colleagues from Portugal, Slovenia, Greece and many other countries! I would recommend every teacher and teacher to participate in the Erasmus+ program and gain this experience, which will allow you to find partners, improve your English skills and expand your worldview and bring new ideas home, and achieve your goals. Such mobilities give an opportunity to look at life from the other side and enjoy your work!

Dmitri Lohmatov

It was the first time I participated in such an international training. And I am very glad that I had this opportunity. The most important experience that I gained while participating in the training was that I worked and continue to work with my inner conflict. On the very first day, I realized that a storm of protest was rising inside me because of the poor organization and low level of teaching. In addition, our group consisted only of school teachers working with underage children and in the beginning I could not find anything in common with adult education ... But I was able to practice my English, meet charming Spanish colleagues and see the Reichtag!!! And it's very cool and a big discovery for me! Would love to go again.

Jelena Burkova

Learning psychological topics in English was a huge brainstorm for me. I felt like a student and I had a forgotten feeling of hard intellectual work

Dmitri Shutov

I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity to study and share experiences here in Sicily within the framework of the Erasmus + project. We are only 5 participants: from Poland, Hungary and myself. COVID has prevented others from being with us. But I have to tell you - it's so cool to study in a mini-group!

Svetlana Shershun

I am grateful for the experience that has shown my work as an adult educator as an important part of a larger and longer process that begins with the attitude towards one's own interests, challenges and needs as a child in need of guidance and reaches my training room at some point. What comes next depends on our cooperation in this space. I am grateful and inspired by this experience. I wish success to all those involved in their important work

Kati Loo

The mobility period was aimed at improving public speaking skills and communication. I learned about how to plan and present an effective and interesting speech. We did these exercised in groups and round-tables, where everyone had a chance to contribute.
The most important for me was work in groups. Team building exercises were good and I felt included in all exercises. On the negative part, I did feel that personally, my English speaking skills need improving in order to be able to fully contribute.

Jekaterina Loide

In addition to useful practical techniques, I expanded my contacts, got the opportunity to share both my experience and the opportunity to be listened to regarding the current difficulties in learning at school. The drama course changed my attitude towards the subject, as I saw how it can be applied not only in language lessons, but also in mathematical and scientific disciplines. The 21st Century Skills course boosted my self-esteem and identified areas that are difficult for both teachers and students right now, how we can help and motivate each other.

Victoria Sokolova

The course was useful from the standpoint of getting to know another tool that helps to effectively organize interaction in large groups. It can be used to organize work within the company or in the learning process to organize group discussions. Both the sociocratic model itself and specific tools can be applied, for example, a developmental interview.

Julia Dem

I have participated in the course about tutoring and mentoring which was very interesting and well planned. Course helped me ti acquire necessary information and mentoring and tutoring skills for work. It was great possibility to exchange experiences with participants and study from them. The most important was meeting with new interesting people, work in groups with them, exchange practices and acquire new knowledge.

Nino Kapanadze

The most important and valuable experience was to live and practice Non-Violent Communication in a community. Learning by doing gave an incredible opportunity for growth, healing and developing professional and personal skills.

Galina Kushanova

Project supported

Contact

Nina Kapanadze

Project manager

Phone: + 375 581 24 709
E-mail: kapanadzenino1@gmail.com

Keep in touch!

+372 512 0998
learning@vestifex.com
Tuleviku 7 Narva, Estonia