The Funding Puzzle in Adult Education for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Slovenia
Tadej Košmerl,
Marko Radovan () and
Danijela Makovec Radovan
Additional contact information
Tadej Košmerl: Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Marko Radovan: Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Danijela Makovec Radovan: Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-17
Abstract:
This study investigates the landscape of public funding for adult education for sustainable development (AESD) in Slovenia, focusing on the distribution, types of funding, and their impact on accessibility and quality. This study employs a mixed methods approach to understand the distribution, types of funding, and their impacts on the accessibility and quality of adult education. Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 59 organizations providing non-formal AESD, alongside semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 representatives. Key findings reveal a significant disparity between operational funding and that designated for AESD implementation, with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) emerging as the primary recipients of public funds. Notably, project-based funding predominates, raising concerns about the sustainability of AESD programs due to its typically time-limited nature. Public funding is essential for ensuring program accessibility and quality, as it enables organizations to hire experts and enhance curricula. However, the reliance on project-based grants creates instability, complicating long-term planning and program effectiveness. The study underscores the need for systematic and continuous funding strategies to support AESD, highlighting the importance of a cross-sectoral approach to policymaking. Overall, the research elucidates the intricate relationship between funding distribution, program effectiveness, and the advancement of sustainable development education.
Keywords: sustainable development; public funding; education for sustainable development (ESD); sustainable development goals (SDGSs); adult education; public organizations; funding mechanisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:
Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/8239/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/8239/ (text/html)
Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX
RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan)
HTML/Text
Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:18:p:8239-:d:1483018
Access Statistics for this article
Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu
More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().