Key Drivers of ALSs Formation in CE

This chapter explores the complex factors that shaped Adult Learning Systems (ALSs) in Central European (CE) countries, focusing on their adaptation to societal challenges and the evolution of their mechanisms for coordinating, providing, and facilitating access to adult education. The influence of Europeanization on ALSs in the region, particularly through policy discourse and a vocational emphasis, has been profound, yet the actual implementation of policies has varied, shaped by national priorities and the European Union’s limited integration into domestic frameworks. Beyond national policies, external forces, economic conditions, and pre-existing institutional structures have also played pivotal roles in shaping ALS development. This chapter underscores how shifts in social structure, especially in education and employment sectors, have impacted participation in adult education and training and related inequalities, evidencing a move towards partial democratization in access to organized learning. Contrary to the initial dynamics of dependent market capitalism that constrained employee training, the 2010s saw an inclination towards more job-related non-formal education driven by economic necessities and labour shortages. Moreover, while welfare state policies have traditionally emphasized redistributive systems, their support for active labour market policies and public non-formal adult education has been limited, indicating a broader trend towards liberalisation in CE ALSs.