REACHING EXCELLENCE - The First QALLL Conference, March 24th 2011, Bled, Slovenia

The first QALLL Conference on Quality assurance in vocational education & training (VET) and adult education (AE) has taken place on March 24^th in Bled, Slovenia. 110 participants from 18 countries discussed the latest trends in the field and took part in hands-on interactive working groups.

With their key note speeches Sophie Weisswange and Maike Koops from the European Commission sketched the European perspective. Ruth Jermann from the Swiss Associaton for Adult Learning provided an insight into EDUQA the first Swiss quality label geared towards adult continuing education. Jürgen Horschinegg from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture delivered an overview of the history of QA in VET and the key elements of successful QA projects.

Highly committed participants, a co-operative working atmosphere and the beautiful ambience of lake Bled characterised the successful conference.

Download the Conference Report here.
Get some impressions of the 1^st QALLL conference by viewing the picture gallery.

By clicking on the links below you now have access to all the presentations (pdf) given during the conference.

09.00 – 09.20 Welcome Speeches:
           - Slovene Ministry of Education and Sport, Vinko Logaj, Director-General
           - National Agency, Slovenia, Maja Mihelic Debeljak, Director
           - National Agency, Austria, Carin Daniel-Ramirez-Schiller, Deputy Head

09.20 - 09.40 Quality in Education, Renata Zupanc-Grom, Slovene Ministry of
                        Education and Sport

09.40 – 10.00 European strategic cooperation within the framework of EQAVET,
                         Sophie Weisswange, European Commission

10.00 – 10.30 Morning keynote on quality assurance in adult education, Ruth
                         Jermann, SVEB - The Swiss national Umbrella Organisation for
                         Adult Education

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 12.30 Parallel morning workshops:
WS A: Developing a Quality Culture
           - Quality rules and initiatives
           - Peer Review as an instrument for pomoting quality culture
WS B: Quality Cycle: Supporting Change
           - RECALL - Recognition of Quality in Lifelong Learning
WS C: Quality Assurance in the Formal Education Sector
           - GEMS - Guidance for Educators Mentors and Students
WS D: Quality assurance in the Non-formal and Informal Education Sector
           - Assessment, Visibility and Exploitation of non/in-formally acquired
             competencies of EXperienced EMPLOyees in Enterprises
            
12.30 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 14.15 Improving quality in the adult learning sector: challenges and
                         next steps on the European level, Maike Koops, European
                         Commission

14.15 – 14.45 Afternoon keynote on QA in VET, Jürgen Horschinegg, Austrian
                         Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture

14:45 – 16:00 Parallel afternoon workshops
WS A: Developing a Quality Culture
           - Quality Management of Peer Production in e-Learning
           - Peer Review as an instrument for pomoting quality culture
WS B: Quality Cycle: Supporting Change
           - REVIMP - From Review to Improvement
           - REFLECT - Reflective Practices for Teachers and Trainers
WS C: Quality Assurance in the Formal Education Sector
           - EQUAL – Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Adult Education
WS D: Quality assurance in the Non-formal and Informal Education Sector
           - EGUIDE - Quality Assurance Framework
           - QUALC - Quality Assurance Network for Adult Learning Centres
       
16:00 – 16.15 Coffee break

16.15 – 17.00 Plenary Session:
           - Reports from the Workshops
           - Panel discussion ‘Challenges in quality assurance’ - Where do
             we stand? – What do we need? - What's ahead?

17.00 Conclusion and closure of the conference