Pučko otvoreno učilište Čakovec (Public Open University Čakovec) has recently completed its first Erasmus+ mobility project (2023-1-HR01-KA121-ADU-000131259) under the Erasmus accreditation in the field of adult education. The project commenced in June 2023 and is now nearing its conclusion. Over the past year, our team participated in a job shadowing placement in Maribor, Slovenia, attended a structured course in Wagna, Austria, and accompanied a group of adult learners on their mobility experience in Ormož, Slovenia. As accredited adult educators until 2027, we are dedicated to implementing European best practices, and these mobilities have established a strong foundation for both personal and professional growth—benefiting not only our team members but also the adult learners who took part. The following paragraphs will provide further insight into these mobilities and the experiences gained.
Staff training at Bildungshaus Retzhof, Austria
Our first stop was Austria’s Bildungshaus Retzhof in Styria, an esteemed adult education centre housed in a historic castle. Retzhof’s legacy of cross-border cooperation made it an ideal setting for staff development. There we attended a week-long course on “Effective Strategies for Motivating Lifelong Education,” which blended interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, and cultural field visits. We learned to place the adult learner at the centre – for example, designing lessons around local cultural heritage and experiential activities. Incorporating local traditions (cooking regional food, exploring nature trails) into the curriculum showed us new ways to engage diverse learners. By the end of the training, we felt energized by our Austrian hosts and ready to adapt Retzhof’s experiential, learner-centred techniques to our courses back in Čakovec.
Job shadowing at AZM Maribor
During the week in Maribor, we witnessed a rich variety of teaching methods and community programs. The AZM staff introduced us to intergenerational and community-based learning – their VGC+ centres truly make all generations welcome, offering activities from core education programs to intergenerational gatherings and intercultural events. In particular, we learned about AZM’s PUM-O program, which supports unemployed youth and job-seekers lacking formal qualifications. This program empowers participants with new skills and motivation for an easier path to employment, illustrating how adult education can directly integrate with the labour market. We also saw strong cross-sector partnerships in action: social workers, counsellors, and employment specialists often co-designed courses with AZM staff. By the end of the shadowing week, our staff had gained insight into innovative adult learning methods and compared notes on program design – truly an exchange of experiences that will help enhance our own educational offerings.
Group mobility of adult learner to Ljudska univerza Ormož, Slovenia
We also organized a group mobility for six adult learners at Ljudska univerza Ormož. The week was packed with enriching, learner-driven activities. Ormož’s staff kicked off the mobility with an interactive presentation about their institution’s programmes, sparking lively questions among our participants. Our learners then explored local culture and heritage: visits to the Franc Ksaver Meško Library (a model “green library” with activities for all ages) and the regional museum deepened their understanding of community learning. The programme featured creative workshops – crocheting beads into necklaces, crafting paper flowers, and decorating reusable bags at a community reuse centre – which fostered new skills, creativity, and environmental awareness. Culinary and language components rounded out the experience: participants helped prepare and taste a traditional Prekmurje gibanica pastry (comparing it to our own regional gibanică) and took basic Slovene lessons for everyday conversation. There was also a heartening exchange with Ormož learners who had just returned from an Irish mobility – their stories inspired our group. The week concluded with a warm certificate ceremony. Overall, our learners returned not only with new competencies but also with lasting memories, friendships, and a stronger sense of cultural exchange.
Reflection and impact
Looking back, each mobility brought clear gains for both staff and learners. Our educators returned inspired by new teaching methods and networks. The insights from AZM and Retzhof – about engaging adult learners with community projects, cultural heritage, and outdoor education – have been shared in our team meetings. In fact, we are confident that the knowledge and best practices exchanged will significantly contribute to the further development of Pučko otvoreno učilište Čakovec. Participating in Erasmus+ mobilities has also broadened everyone’s perspective on lifelong learning: staff now better appreciate the value of intercultural dialogue, and learners have experienced firsthand that education can be fun, creative, and communal. Importantly, these exchanges strengthened our international partnerships: holding Erasmus+ accreditation means Čakovec can continue such mobilities regularly, ensuring ongoing professional growth and innovative programming.
Through this journey we were reminded of a core truth: lifelong learning is for everyone – every age, every background. It is never too late to learn, grow, or discover something new!
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
