Jugendbüro der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft VoG

Organisation

The Jugendbüro was appointed as the National Agency for Erasmus+ and the eTwinning National Support Service in the German-speaking Community of Belgium.

The Jugendbüro is also a service provider for the youth sector in the German-speaking Community of Belgium. It advises youth organisations on an administrative and pedagogical level and deploys staff for the youth council and youth work. It administers national as well as international programmes and provides training opportunities for specialised staff in the youth sector.

Work programme

The EPALE National Support Service (NSS) in the German-speaking Community aims to inform all actors in the field of formal and non-formal, professional and non-professional adult education about EPALE. They shall be encouraged to register on the website, to participate in the interactive offers and to contribute to the platform.

To achieve this aim, the NSS in the German-speaking Community will implement a communication strategy, manage networking activities with regional actors in adult education and monitor the registrations and the participation of the registered actors on the platform. The NSS will cooperate closely with the Central Support Service (CSS). The NSS will support the CSS in the implementation of European communication activities and contribute to the content and multilingualism of the platform. The priority in the first phase of the implementation of EPALE is to counsel and inform the beneficiaries.

The main target groups are providers of school education (second-chance education), continuous vocational education and training, teacher training and non formal adult education as well as the council of adult education, the professional development service in the German-speaking Community as well as policy-makers in the Ministry and in the Government.

The NSS will use the communication channels of the National Agency for Erasmus+. The formal and non formal adult education providers will also be informed in meetings with the NSS. In order to inform the different actors in adult education and to motivate them to participate in the development of the platform’s content, the NSS will also organise conferences for adult education providers.

The Team

In the German-speaking Community EPALE is coordinated by Chantal Pierlot (087 560 979, epale@jugendbuero.be).

Adult Learning

The sector of adult education in the German-speaking Community is constituted of different actors:

Formal adult education
- school education (second-chance education)
- vocational education and training
- agricultural education and training
- teacher training
Accredited non formal adult education
Non formal adult education in employment, social affairs, arts and culture, media, sports, nature and environmental education

More information on adult learning in the German-speaking Community of Belgium can be found on the Eurydice website:

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/eurydice/index.php/Belgium-German-Speaking-Community:Adult_Education_and_Training

Stakeholders

Policy-makers in adult education

Adult education lies in the responsibility of the Minister of Education. In the Ministry, formal and non formal adult education belong to the department of “vocational education and training, organisation of education”.

On the 17th of November 2008 a new decree in support of adult education organisations was passed. This decree focuses on every citizen's right to acquire and to increase key competences. The application of the decree led to a profound reorganisation of institutions providing adult education. The “Council for Adult Education” was created.

Council for Non Formal Adult Education

The council receives a grant from the government and is constituted of one effective and one substitute member of each of the 13 accredited non formal organisations in the German-speaking Community. The council is an interest group of non formal adult education providers where they can exchange ideas. It supports their cooperation and offers guidance regarding quality insurance and development. It is an information platform for member organisations as well as for interested citizens.

http://www.rfe-dg.be

Professional development service in the German-speaking Community

The professional development service in the Ministry of the German-speaking Community provides guidance for citizens in the field of formal and non formal education as well as for organisations providing education and training for young people and adults.

The service has set up four priorities:

Informing citizens: The service provides counselling with regards to personal and professional needs of individuals. Through the development of the citizens’ potentials, it strengthens the German-speaking Community as an educational and economic location.
Accompanying education providers: Through the provision of information and services, the service strengthens the qualitative work of the providers.
Public relations: Through the use of different proactive methods, frequent PR work, support of professional development by BRAWO and other national and international funding programmes the service aims to raise all citizens' awareness of professional development opportunities. Groups from disadvantaged backgrounds are targeted by specific offers.
Cooperation with external partners: The service ensures professional counselling and up-to-date information through the exchange with external partners active in relevant fields such as the recognition of diplomas). Due to their location in a border region, their activities have an impact on a national and international level.

http://www.bildungsserver.be/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-3060