The professional qualification of adult educator/ andragogue

The development of Estonian qualification system began on request of the Government in 1998, when Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry established a Qualification Reform Team and the first professional standards were put together. Since 2001, the qualification system has been developed by Estonian Qualification Authority (Kutsekoda). The Professions Act serves as a legal basis for the development and implementation of the qualification system.

Estonian qualification system is made up of the development of professional standards and the issue of professional certificates. Professional standards are put together on five professional levels, established on the basis of the complexity of work, the share of skills and knowledge and the scope of required independence and responsibility. As a rule, the first three professional levels are associated with qualified labour, evolving on the basis of the apprentice-assistant-master principle. The third level of a qualified employer is the highest i.e. the so-called master’s level. Qualifications assuming higher education start from the third level. Levels four and five are generally associated with leadership function and the increased complexity and responsibility of work. Not all professions presume the establishment of qualification levels from I to V. The number of qualification levels describing a profession is established by the experts of a particular field. For instance, there is no level I professional qualification of an adult education specialist/ andragogue and the level II professional standard was developed only recently (2007) to expand the possibility of attributing professional qualification also to less experienced trainers.

The qualification system plays an important role as a supporter of Estonia’s competitiveness. A smoothly functioning qualification system also contributes to the legitimation and application of the principles of lifelong learning. The qualification system is integral and its underlying principles are uniform for all fields. The attribution of qualification and the issue of qualification certificates are basing on the involvement of and acknowledgment by employers and qualification examinations are consolidating their position in the education system.

The development of the professional standard of an adult education specialist/ andragogue began in the early 2000’s and the first qualification certificates were issued to andragogues in 2004. The right to attribute qualification was given to Estonian Association of Estonian Adult Educators ANDRAS, who established a professional council, made up of the experts of the field. First professional standard was knowledge-based. For the implementation of a competence-based professional standard a new version was worked out and the already existing three levels (III – V) were supplemented by level II (2007). So far 132 professional certificates of adult education specialists/ andragogues have been issued.

Since 2004 Andras has the right to award professional qualifications. The professional standard of an adult educator is awarded on levels II, III, IV and V. The closing date for applications is April 15 and October 15 annually.

The professional standard for adult educators READ HERE

Procedure of attestation and attribution READ HERE

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