Vertical Axis: Volume of Participation

The subsequent chapter investigates participation rates in Adult Education and Training (AET) within Central European (CE) Adult Learning Systems (ALSs), employing three distinct measures: (1) annual participation rates derived from international surveys, (2) a 4-week snapshot based on the EU’s Labour Force Survey (LFS), and (3) the number of training hours per participant per year. This analysis reveals that over the last two decades, AET participation in CE countries has significantly increased, in some instances nearly doubling. This growth is attributed to the emergence of a semi-regulated market for job-related non-formal education and a surge in demand after 2010. Nonetheless, Poland exhibits a modest rise, with a focus on formal adult education (FAE), whereas Slovakia shows little to no growth, indicating a stagnation in its ALS. The findings also indicate a divergence, rather than a convergence, towards the EU average levels of participation, signalling a potential need for policy revision in these nations. Furthermore, aside from Poland, which has maintained its volume of training through an emphasis on FAE, all countries have experienced a decline in training hours per participant. This trend suggests an ‘extensification’ of CE ALSs, prioritising broader access over the intensity of engagement.