Beyond Classrooms: Alternative Adult Learning Spaces
Professional conference with international participation
- October 16, 2025
- Hotel Park Inn by Radisson Danube, Bratislava
Come and be inspired at a professional conference organized by the State Institute for Vocational Education in cooperation with the National Coordinator for Adult Education.
Today, adult education is increasingly taking place outside traditional classrooms: in companies, libraries, community cafes, or online.
The event will show you how these and other alternative spaces can work in practice, what their advantages, pitfalls, and potential are. You can look forward to inspiring contributions from experts from academia and practice, an overview of current data on adult education in Slovakia, examples from abroad, and three practical workshops with lecturers who have long been active in the fields of financial literacy, media education, and human potential development.
The informal networking session at the end will give you the opportunity to make new contacts, share experiences, and discuss opportunities for cooperation in the field of adult education.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
8:30 – 9:00 Registration, morning coffee
9:00 – 9:10 Conference opening
9:10 – 10:40 Expert contributions I.
10:40 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30 Expert contributions II.
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 15:00 Workshops
15:00 – 15:30 Summary and conclusion
15:30 – 16:30 Informal networking
Expert contributions I.
What shapes alternative approaches to adult education in Slovakia
Michaela Beran Sládkayová ׀ Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici ׀ michaela.sladkayova@umb.sk
Results of the 2022 Adult Education Survey in the Slovak Republic
Ľuba Habodászová ׀ State Institute for Vocational Education ׀ luba.habodaszova@siov.sk
Ivana Studená ׀ Slovak Academy of Sciences ׀ ivana.studena@savba.sk
Results of mapping adult learning spaces in the Slovak Republic
Tomáš Janči ׀ State Institute for Vocational Education and Training ׀ tomas.janci@siov.sk
Digitálne občianstvo pre všetky generácie
Natália Babicová ׀ DigiQ ׀ natalia.babicova@digiq.sk
Expert contributions II.
Community education in Ireland
Larisa Șioneriu ׀ AONTAS The National Adult Learning Organisation Ireland ׀ lsioneriu@aontas.com
SmartLab – digital technologies for everyone in your library
Dávid Baranko ׀ Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information ׀ david.baranko@cvtisr.sk
Education as the Elixir of Youth
Klaudia Bednárová ׀ Kogneo ׀ bednarova@kogneo.org
WORKSHOPS
Money Mindset
Denisa Francanová ׀ National Bank of Slovakia ׀ denisa.francanova@nbs.sk
An interactive workshop on why people make irrational decisions about money despite the availability of facts and logical arguments. Participants will learn about the key factors that influence our financial decisions and how to develop a healthier relationship with money.
About the lecturer:
D. Francanová is a member of the 5peňazí lecturing team at the National Bank of Slovakia, which is dedicated to financial literacy education with a focus on developing critical thinking and a healthy relationship with finance. Educational activities are tailored to different target groups.
She has many years of experience as a lecturer in national and international projects, particularly in the field of financial education and social economy. She has collaborated on projects such as Bridges Out of Poverty (USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia) and Second Chance Schools (Sweden, Slovakia) and has translated professional methodologies in the fields of education, psychology, and social inclusion. Mosty z chudoby (USA, ČR, SR), Školy druhej šance (Švédsko, SR) a prekladala odborné metodiky z oblasti vzdelávania, psychológie a sociálnej inklúzie.
Media literacy through play at any age
Alexandra Katkinová ׀ Seesame ׀ konspiratori.sk ׀ katkinova@seesame.com
A practical workshop focused on developing media literacy in seniors. You will learn to recognize misinformation, identify reliable sources, and try out an interactive quiz. We will show you a proven approach that helps hundreds of seniors cope with information chaos.
About the lecturer:
A. Katkinová is a communication expert, experienced facilitator, and trainer. She leads workshops on various topics in the field of communication and education. As part of the Konšpirátori.sk project, she is involved in activities to strengthen media skills and develop critical thinking. She regularly conducts training for students at schools throughout Slovakia and for other target groups, including teachers and seniors.
70:20:10 – the ideal ratio for successful development
Alexandra Budinská ׀ Ateliér Rozvoja ׀ info@atelierrozvoja.sk
How do adults learn most effectively? Why is formal education just the tip of the iceberg, and why does real development take place outside of training? Discover the 70:20:10 model and learn how to apply it in your organization and personal development. The workshop also includes a mini individual growth plan.
About the lecturer:
A. Budinská is an internationally certified coach (ICF), lecturer, and consultant in the field of human potential development. She focuses primarily on workplace coaching—both individual and team—and on developing communication skills, stress management, and supporting corporate culture. She has many years of experience in the corporate environment, where she worked as an internal coach, lecturer, and project manager. She is a member of the Slovak Association of Coaches, coordinator of the Žilina Regional Coaches Club, and an active lecturer at a coaching school. She also works externally with companies, individuals, and community initiatives.
Don't miss this opportunity to meet experts, share your experiences, and look at adult education from a different angle. We look forward to seeing you there.
Please register by October 10, 2025, at the latest, using the registration form:
https://forms.office.com/e/RneY3VWY4g
