CONFERENCE
On 16 January 2026, Una Libkovska, a professor of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and a leading researcher of the State Research Programme (SRP) “Education” project “Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia” (project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001) took part in a meeting with entrepreneurs on opportunities and challenges in adult education. The meeting was organised by the State Education Development Agency (Latvian acronym: VIAA) and the Ventspils State City Education Authority.
During the meeting, participants discussed the opportunities provided by the STARS skills management platform for adult continuing education and the enhancement of professional skills, with particular attention to the European Union projects “Training for the Employed” and “Digital Skills for Experts”. The discussions emphasised the role of employers in supporting employees at the initial stage of commencing studies, as well as the need to establish purposeful cooperation between entrepreneurs, the municipality and educational institutions. The Adult Education Department of the State Education Development Agency presented the learning opportunities offered through the STARS platform, as well as the support required for employed adults to begin their studies and the role of the municipality in ensuring such support.
In the second part of the event, a meeting was held with municipal specialists and organisers of adult education, representatives of youth and cultural work, and other interested parties. The discussion addressed ways to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders involved in adult education and identified the necessary support from the State Education Development Agency in reaching out to and motivating adults to engage in learning.
The event brought together more than 20 representatives of companies and institutions from the city and municipality of Ventspils, who actively participated in the discussions, shared their experience and put forward proposals for improving the adult education offer. The meeting once again confirmed that coordinated and purposeful cooperation between state institutions, municipalities, educational institutions and employers is an essential prerequisite for the effective development of adult skills, the strengthening of competitiveness and sustainable employment.
