German ambassador opened Kharagauli Adult Education Center
By Mariam Chanishvili
Wednesday, May 1
Kharagauli Adult Education Center opened on April 24.
The project, which is funded by the German Adult Education Association - DVV International’s office in Georgia and supported by Imereti Governor’s Office and Kharagauli Municipality Government, aims at developing local, socially vulnerable population and give them a chance to acquires professional skills or qualifications in the existing profession.
The main direction of the Center's activities is to develop and strengthen the adult education field and promote the development of professional staff.
The new education center will give interested individuals the opportunity to improve their qualifications and become competitive in the labor market in different directions.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany, H.E. Mr. Hubert Knirsch, Maya Avramovska – DVV Regional Director of Caucasus Region, Southeast Europe and Turkey and Director of DVV International Georgia Office, Lali Santeladze.
“The cooperation between Germany and Georgia is celebrated in the fields of culture, economy, and education and I am very glad this cooperation also resulted in Kharagauli. It is very important for the Adult Education Center to be developed in Kharagauli for the local population as well as for the development of the region. These relations are also important for Germany as we get new friendships, new stages of cooperation. I have studied the work of several adult education centers founded by DVV International in Georgia and I know that this center will bring many useful jobs to the population of the region. Those in the center will get the education they need. This is the fruit of cooperation between the governments of Germany and Georgia, as well as with the local government,” said Mr. Hubert Knirsch.
We are presenting an incomplete list of personal or professional courses that are offered to beneficiaries: computer skills, English and German languages, tourism, project management, accounting, financial management, conflict management, enamel creation, bakery, cosmetology, stylist, beekeeping, building, culinary and many more.
Therefore, the diversity of current activities of Adult Education Centers attracts people of different ages, sex, and social status, participating in the courses and activities at any age, this increases the possibility of education for middle 40+ and older 60+ age groups, who mostly, due to their age, think are inappropriate for further learning.
Avramovska noted that DVV International, which is the Institute for International Cooperation of the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. (DVV), the German Adult Education Association, is part of one big family in Germany, which includes up to 900 public universities and their federal union.
“These organizations are the largest providers of adult education in Germany. At the same time, DVV International is also a member of the great international family, as it collaborates with 200 local partners in more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. DVV International is based on international experience. The networks are created to allow you to share the knowledge and experience beyond the boundaries. In May of this year, DVV International marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation. As a global organization of Adult Education, we are collaborating with citizens, educational institutions and governments to sustain adult education systems. Together with our partners, we establish lifelong learning and education center,” Avramovska stated.
In 2002, DVV International opened its country office in Georgia, which has now become one of the key players in adult education in the country.
The main focus of works includes the construction of adult education centers: Along with its partner organizations, DVV International has built nine adult education centers on the German model in different regions of the country, primarily to respond to the needs of IDPs. They offer, among other things, courses in the realm of basic education and vocational training. For the adult population in these regions, the centers often provide the only chance for further education.
“DVV International has been working in Georgia since 2002, has been implementing the large project in terms of Adult Education Centers since 2006. In 2006 the first education center was established. Since then, DVV International has changed many things in the country and today there are 11 adult education centers operating in 12 regions of Georgia, which annually offer up to 12,000 beneficiaries in a multilateral educational program,” said Lali Santeladze.
DVV International has been working together with the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science in the field of vocational training (training of teachers, the establishment of a vocational guidance system).
