The current project aims to fill in the gap and to foster critical thinking approach in non-formal adult education by strengthening professional capacities of adult educators and empowering diverse groups of learners to apply and cultivate CT in various spheres of personal, community, professional and social life. This will be done by consolidating scientific knowledge and good practice, through partner organizations active in the fields of adult education, general education and HE.
Long-term work in the field of critical thinking (further – CT) CT has revealed that CT competence is given not sufficient attention in adult education. Development of CT across different age groups and contexts is crucial as it has to do with development of new life-skills, ability to adapt to new circumstances, to question reality, to develop autonomy, decision making, employability. Adult educators as well as learners do not have sufficient knowledge, practice and experience in critical thinking, as it used to be cultivated in formal education settings at most. That was the main reason to create the “Erasmus+“ project for empowering CT in adult education field.
MIND – Critical theory in adult education practice: empowerment for critical actions project (2023-1-LT01-KA220-ADU-000153426), funded by “Erasmus+“ KA-2 ADU program, aims to fill in the gap and to foster critical thinking approach in non-formal adult education by strengthening professional capacities of adult educators and empowering diverse groups of learners to apply and cultivate CT in various spheres of personal, community, professional and social life. This will be done by consolidating scientific knowledge and good practice, through partner organizations active in the fields of adult education, general education and HE.
The project will carry out scientific literature analysis, investigation and analysis of adult education documents and programs, designing of critical thinking development model, development of program and practical tool kit, as well as recommendations for adult policy makers. Peer and mutual learning activities will be carried on during the whole project on a different levels with the different target groups – project team, trainers, adult educators, adult learners.
This project is a new initiative, build on previous projects experiences and the daily professional activities of the project partners. The consortium consists of 10 organizations from Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Romania and Portugal, having experience in researching, developing critical thinking and working with adult organizations/teachers and learners.
Project partners:
- Lithuanian Association of Adult Education, Lithuania (coordinator)
- Šiuolaikinių didaktikų centras, Lithuania
- Educational development Center, Latvia
- Latvian Adult Education Association, Latvia
- Ustanova za obrazovanje odraslih Dante, Croatia
- Pucko otvoreno uciliste Libar, Croatia
- Studii Economice DIN Bucuresti, Romania
- Asociatia Egomundi, Romania
The partnership unites its “know how” and suggests innovative peer learning combined with mutual learning approach. First, learning from diverse experiences – at individual and organizational levels. Second, learning from diverse professional contexts and sectors. Third, learning from diverse educational systems, policies and cultures. Learning happens during the whole project period seeking to achieve project aim and objectives, and provide evidence-based answers to the following questions.
Project activities will provide evidence-based answers to questions:
- What is critical thinking in non-formal adult education?
- What is its value for individual, organization, community and society?
- How it can be specifically developed and applied in different situations and contexts?
Answers will be embedded in following outputs:
- Compendium of scientific literature.
- Report of analysis of adult education documents/programs.
- CT Program and Toolkit.
- Recommendations for adult education policy.
The project is innovative not only because of its methodology, where science and practice work in parallel, but also because it seeks to have an impact not only on adult education practice, but also on policy, as well as on further adult education researchers on the topic of critical thinking education.
For more information about project activities follow: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556004856828
The project “Critical theory in adult education practice: Empowerment for critical actions” (MIND) No. 2023-1-LT01-KA220-ADU-000153426 is financed by the Erasmus+ program.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views or opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.
