Institutul Roman de Educatie a Adultilor

Romanian Institute for Adult Education (IREA) is a pedagogical research institute established in 2000, which works as non-profit organization alongside the Department of Educational Sciences of the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, of West University of Timisoara. IREA was founded at the initiative of the West University of Timisoara (UVT), the Romanian Social Bank Banat - Crisana Institute (ISRBC) and the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) as founding members. IREA mainly aims to conduct research, publish books and support materials regarding adult education, to provide counselling, documentation, communication and information to improve pedagogical skills and managerial practitioners in adult education. Essentially, we offer professional and scientific support needed to improve the national system of continuing education in our country, so it made compatible with international systems and practices for adult education. The overall aim of the research is to improve the quality of adult education and youth worker, to identify ways to increase their participation in learning, and to strengthen the size lifelong learning, both at individual and institutional levels. The main research directions within IREA are: professionalization of adult educators, the impact of new media on adult learning, inter-generational learning and active aging, developing the concept of different support services offered to adults (counselling in adult education, delivery of innovative teaching and learning in the workplace, development of key skills, adult basic education, social inclusion and active citizenship through education). Some of the activities we implement are being the interface between theoreticians and practitioners; maintaining a platform for professionals working in adult education using a wide range of channels such as publications (books, guides, journal, research reports), annotated information resources, academic events (National Conference on Adult Education); advising for policies in adult education and LLL; consulting for organizational and staff development; assessing professional skills. Our institute has research directions as well. The purpose of the research activity carried out by IREA is to improve the quality of adult education and to find ways to increase the participation rate in adult education and to enhance lifelong learning at both the individual and institutional levels. Our target groups is formed by theoreticians and practitioners working in adult education and youth workers such as professors, trainers, managers of educational projects, instructors, counsellors and volunteers. Among our priorities we mention: - to conduct research at national level to diagnose the current situation of adult education in Romania and to present strategic action frameworks for the development of adult education and youth workers; - promoting a system of continuous professional development for adult trainers, in order to improve their professional status; - providing support for improving the basic education of adults and youth in Romania; - publication of resources, materials and books examining the results of the methodology and training in adult education and youth field. Throughout our entire research activity, 20 years since its inception, the main goal was to promote adult education with a focus on support adult education practitioners, quality in lifelong learning education, students learning motivation. All this experience and expertise has been gained by participating in over numerous national and international research projects, over 50 national and international consultative meetings by joining various networks, organizing/ participating in thematic conferences in adult education and youth. IREA has published more than 20 books on various issues in adult education, the coordinator of the series of the publication: "Theoretical Approaches in Adult Education", "Praxis in Adult Education"; is co-editor of the Jou