VERNETZUNG FÜR EIN NEUES ERWACHSENENLERNEN Austria
Networking is a target-oriented, subject- and action-related co-operation of actors across institutional borders with an important cross-sectorial role. New occupations in adult and continuing education and new concepts for the improvement of adult and continuing education have promoted networking.
As the example of environmental education shows, the educational map is changing. Within the concept of "sustainability" networking is playing a vital part. In Austria environmental counsellors´ groups ("Umweltberatung") benefit from public support. Environmental counselling sets initiatives and offers
practice-oriented solutions for appropriate environmental action. The job of an environmental counsellor consists of structuring existing knowledge, stimulating new research, representing environmental requests through policy counselling and enabling the translation of sustainability into practice in small and middle-
sized enterprises. Citizens´ participation thus becomes more important. Similarly, there are special measures to support people who have difficulties in accessing the labour market with a combination of training, learning, guidance, work practice, search for work, design of individual paths and further education. Within European projects the profession of the educational manager
("Bildungsmanager") was established. Educational managers co-ordinate a network between providers of adult and continuing education and small and middle sized enterprises with regard to the European dimension. Small and middle sized enterprises create the possibility and resources to train within their
enterprises on a high qualitative level.
Within the framework of networking, partners with different competencies work towards a common goal. Besides the traditional providers of adult and continuing education, small and new providers and enterprises, educational and training agencies and other groups also contribute to a new professionalism in
adult and continuing education. The system is getting more flexible, work is target oriented on clear lines.
Gerhard Bisovsky, Elisabeth Brugger
References
Bisovsky, G., Brugger, E., (1995) Theoretische Grundlegungen der Volkshochschul-Arbeit. In: Schratz, M.,
Lenz, W. (eds.), Erwachsenenbildung in Österreich: Beiträge zu Theorie und Praxis, Baltmannsweiler:
Schneider-Verlag, Hohengehren, pp. 73-95
Weinzierl, R., Haerpfer, C. (1995) 30 Trends für Österreich zur Jahrtausendwende. Vienna: Passagen-Verlag
