Andrijana Pavićević: EPALE encourages and supports us
Short biography
I am a specialist in Information Technologies and a Professor of Computer Science. I am an active member of our EPALE family. I have also been EPALE AMBASSADOR for MONTENEGRO until 2025 almost from the beginning. As part of my competences, I lead several projects, among which I would like to emphasize EDUCATION FOR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP AND SAFE INTERNET SURFING.
My Story
I start this EPALE 10th anniversary story by expressing my admiration for those creators who were persistent enough, incredibly brave and unwavering in believing in the dream that I also believed in from the very beginning of our EPALE community. A few brilliant people believed in the idea; the great ones were incredibly brave to do something incredible for the EU, to do something good for all of us, to create the EPALE family! Those few great people will recognise themselves in this story, be proud of themselves and all of us, and smile sweetly when they read this.
That's how great things happen! That's how great ideas are born! This is the beginning of the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe! From a few thousand users in the beginning to over 160,000 users in just the first decade of EPALE!
That's how my journey began, side by side with EPALE. We walked together, grew together and created this wonderful habit and need we had for each other.
I have to be completely honest; it was not easy in the first years. There were many challenges along the way, not the least of which was: "Will the director allow me to do the activities? Will they be willing to learn about EPALE? After all, being a computer science teacher is my main job. How can I keep my job and give 100% of myself to the EPALE platform, the promotion and all the other things involved?
The great effort I put in with love has paid off because EPALE has only grown! The moment I log in to EPALE, the windows to the EU open and the positive EU magic begins!
In EPALE my skills have been recognised and the recognition has increased over the years. The HEROES badge system and becoming a member of the EPALE HALL OF FAME are my favourites, and my motivation has only grown!
The heart desires more and better for a job that you love and for which you constantly improve your skills with the desire to progress, because work ceases to be work when you do what you love! I have enriched my skills with many certificates and awards. I even realised my old dream of learning and obtaining a Chinese language certificate. I am still learning it. Over time, my identity has unknowingly improved. EPALE is a part of my identity.
There are thousands of wonderful people on the platform who have common interests that connect adult education (the key to society) and all that it encompasses. Lifelong learning has been my mission since my earliest childhood - MISSION DONE!
As I write this, the thoughts in my head wander and many images reappear, right back to the very beginning, Tamsin Rose opening the EPALE Conference in Budapest 2018 with the words "Growing together-fostering an inspiring community for adult education! The exchange of ideas, the future development of the platform, innovative ideas and raising awareness of the possibilities offered by the EPALE platform for all those working in the field of adult education and learning are just some of the goals that lie ahead."
I am not biased, but I think the effort has been worth it, and we have done quite well!
EPALE has diversity, which is its virtue, and it is different from countless electronic platforms. It respects this, but it also respects each of its members. EPALE encourages and supports us not to give up when transitions and challenges begin and not to lose hope. And we didn't! We are still here and Bravo to us!
