Adult Education and Adult Educators in Transition

Adult Education and Adult Educators in Transition is an microdegree programme tailored for working professionals in adult education who want to explore new perspectives in an evidence-based manner.

This microdegree programme is for:

• adult educators,
• prospective adult educators,
• adult learning specialists,
• community leaders,
• learning facilitators,
• staff from organisations working in adult education outside the traditional system,
• students including PhD students,
• educators and leaders of the adult education community centres,
• representatives of nongovermental organisatsion and local communities.

Adult education is a central theme if the European Education Area between 2021 and 2030. The new European Agenda for Adult Learning outlines a vision of how adult learning should develop in Europe by 2030. The changing environment and the need of an aging society to cope with constant change place different demands on adult education and lifelong learning providers. The need for critical and creative thinking, adaptability and the capacity to lead change, the need for upgrading and broadening skills is constantly growing. Enduring crises, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and economic, geopolitical and social upheavals, are affecting processes in the education landscape, including adult learning. Learning opportunities are widening and moving into different learning spaces, including an increasing share of technology-enriched approaches and learning formats.

Nevertheless, the social, cultural, civic and educational mission of adult education has not changed. Adaptation to changes, e.g. social crises, digital transformation, adult well-being, changing learning habits, e.g. also changing demands in the qualification framework for adult educators. Changes in Estonian legislation affect practicitioners' professionalization processes in adult education. Although the different facets of the professional identity of adult education practitioners and educators should be addressed throughout their professional development, little or no attention is paid to it. Professional identity need to be nurtured and addressed at all times (Ruijters & Sions, 2020).

Adult Education and Adult Educators in Transition is microdegree programme is based:

• on the impact of ongoing changes and crises on adult education; 
• on the need to understand, critically analyse and make sense of transnational changes and challenges as well as on the need of adult learning support practices to create innovative, learner-supportive solutions and practices in the international learning community.

In line with this aim, Adult Education and Adult Educators in Transition microdegree programme supports:

• Engagement in collaborative and individual learning and criticial analysis of the relevance to contemporary practices and movements, community activities targeting social and people-driven change.
• Web-based learning and connect learners with experts in the field, giving participants the possibility to meet with experts and professionals from the field.

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Why study with us?

This programme is a unique international continuing education programme that is based on master-level degree study courses and consists of three modules. Partners from partner organisations will be involved in the programme to enrich the international content of the programme and critical views on the main themes of the modules.

The  programme creates opportunities for: an explorative, interactive, creative and collaborative learning process involving a variety of practices and processes through which participants can reflect on, refine, extend and deepen their professional practice.

Programme encourages participants to critically reflect on personal identity, provides opportunities to reflect on professional practice and supports development activities. During the virtual study visits, we will share the story of adult education in Estonia, give an overview of participation in lifelong learning, which is one of the highest in Europe; introduce the qualification framework for adult educators and the development of national professional and assessment standard of adult educators, present the latest results of PIAC, and meet with experts from the field.

Study method

This programme takes place using ZOOM and the web-based learning environment MOODLE. Studying includes

• seminars,
• interactive sessions,
• critical and moderated discussions,
• creative and reflective practices,
• virtual study visits,
• meetings with experts and professionals from the field of adult education.

Between the sessions, independent learning will take place in small groups-study circles (SC). GOOGLE DRIVE will be used as the base support station for study circle groups. Study circles will be used as a model for supporting small learning communities/groups for all kinds of peer learning during the whole study process. Through the study circles, we support the possibility of experiencing learning in an international learning group. We will also integrate into the programme meetings with experts to explore the international and national context of adult education and learning.

The programme includes virtual study visits in educational institutions in Estonia (for example Education and Youth Board, Estonian Association of Adult Educators “Andras”, Education Estonia) and meeting with international experts in adult education. An action plan has been created. Experts from the field of adult education (ESREA network Adult Educators, Trainers and their Professional Development, Estonian Association for Adult Education, Eesti Andragoogide Liit) and academic partners from Malta and Ljubljana Universities will be involved in providing seminars or virtual study visits. 

Admission requirements

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent from an accredited institution.
• A minimum B2 level of English language proficiency.

Application deadlines

• November 17, 2025, submission of an application and covering letter (your motivation for taking the course).

  At a minimum, the letter should state why you wish to take part; what knowledge and skills you bring to the course (e.g. work experience); how you hope to use what you learn.

  Covering letter is evaluated by the following criteria:
  1) purpose: clearly stated goal;
  2) experience: relevance of work experience and skills in reference to the microdegree.
  3) influence: clarity of vision in how to apply learning from microdegree.
  4) writing: quality of language and criticality of thought.

• December 8, 2025, selection of the participants and feedback to the candidates.

Study sessions

The Adult Education and Adult Educators in Transition is unique international programme based on the Master of Science in Andragogy and on the international programme "Adult Education for Social Change", and consists of three modules:

• International Developments in Adult Education (6 ECTS)
• Adult Educators as Learning Professionals and Leaders of Change (6 ECTS)
• Reflection of Adult Educator (1 ECTS)

Programme period starts in November and goes on until June (1,5 semesters, 8 months).

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Academic Staff

Contact information