The round table provided a space for expert discussion and knowledge exchange between Slovak and Portuguese participants. The Slovak project coordinator, Forum for Lifelong Learning, was represented by Monika Petlusová, Edita Rigová and Peter Mala.
On the Portuguese side, 14 experts from seven different organizations involved in adult education participated in the event:
- Rede de Desenvolvimento Local de Base Comunitária de Lisboa
- Animar – Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimento Local
- Barafunda AJCSS (Centro Qualifica)
- Conselho Português para os Refugiados
- CECOA – Centro de Formação Profissional para o Comércio e Afins
- JRS Portugal – Serviço Jesuíta aos Refugiados
- Lisboa Cidade da Aprendizagem (an e-learning platform managed by Lisbon City Council)
Preliminary Research Findings
The discussion focused on partial and preliminary findings from the research conducted in both Slovakia and Portugal. The following common barriers to participation in education faced by low-skilled adults were highlighted:
- Geographic inaccessibility and lack of public transportation
- Lack of knowledge about available learning opportunities
- Lack of information on where to find relevant guidance
- Limited financial resources
- Preference for work over education
- Negative past experiences with formal schooling
Representatives of Portuguese organizations shared their practical experience from the field, contributing a wealth of insights. These contributions will be compiled into a separate publication and will also inform the project’s final report.
Next Steps in the Project
The MAPA project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, will run until March 2025. It is currently in a transitional phase: the empirical research phase has been completed, and the data analysis phase is now beginning.