Page 50 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, Boštjan Žvanut, eds. 2017. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije ▪︎ Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 50
avje delovno aktivne populacije | health of the working-age population 48 Apublicly valid program of non-formal adult education program “Pro-
ject learning for young adults (PUM)” in Slovenia was created in the
nineties. The program PUM was one of the first publicly approved ed-
ucational programs for adults, prepared in accordance with the guidelines of
curricular reform of education for adults. The purpose of creating such a pro-
gram was mainly reducing social exclusion of the most vulnerable groups of
young NEETS (youngsters not employed, educated or trained). Since its incep-
tion, the program has developed, supplemented and amended. There have been
completed also the evaluation studies in 2002 (Istenič Starčič et al., 2002), and
2010 (Možina et al., 2010) which have demonstrated both the quality as well as
the shortcomings of the program and the new needs of young people, especial-
ly the new opportunities for developing and completing the program.
The purpose and goals of the program PUM-O
Based on the experience of many years of the program PUM and based on the
new social circumstances a demand for a new program “Project learning for
young adults (PUM-O)” has appeared. It was built at the initiative of the Min-
istry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ) and
on the basis of the Operational Program for the Implementation of the Europe-
an Cohesion Policy in the period 2014-2020. The program is aimed at vulnera-
ble groups of young adults from 15 to 26 years who have dropped out of school
or have not acquired the proper education that would allow them to get the ap-
propriate employment.
The PUM-O is formed as an upgrade of previously mentioned PUM pro-
gram, of which it differs considerably. Compared with the PUM program,
whose main objective was to enable young people to gain experience and skills
to continue successfully their education, the main objective of the new pro-
gram PUM-O is convergence and entry of participants into the labour market.
Extending the target group of the program is also reflected in the fact that the
PUM-O compared with PUM also aims at students who are involved in regu-
lar education, but threatened by the risk of dropout. Therefore, we can conclude
that the substantial modification of the program PUM is integration of partici-
pants into the labour market. The program is directed markedly to process and
provides in-depth cooperation between different resources, allowing partici-
pants to fulfil their personal career plan (Žalec et al., 2015).
As stated by the different authors (Možina et al., 2010), it is a fundamental
objective of the program to help young people to gain experience and knowl-
edge that would enable them to be successful in further education or the cho-
sen career path. It is very important for them to obtain functional knowledge
that develops general education: wide horizons and flexibility of thinking, get-
ting a positive learning experience, clearly articulated career aspirations and
developing skills in critical and problem-oriented thinking. This program en-
courages young people in three areas of activity, namely the spread of general
education, the formation of professional identity and socio-cultural activities.
ject learning for young adults (PUM)” in Slovenia was created in the
nineties. The program PUM was one of the first publicly approved ed-
ucational programs for adults, prepared in accordance with the guidelines of
curricular reform of education for adults. The purpose of creating such a pro-
gram was mainly reducing social exclusion of the most vulnerable groups of
young NEETS (youngsters not employed, educated or trained). Since its incep-
tion, the program has developed, supplemented and amended. There have been
completed also the evaluation studies in 2002 (Istenič Starčič et al., 2002), and
2010 (Možina et al., 2010) which have demonstrated both the quality as well as
the shortcomings of the program and the new needs of young people, especial-
ly the new opportunities for developing and completing the program.
The purpose and goals of the program PUM-O
Based on the experience of many years of the program PUM and based on the
new social circumstances a demand for a new program “Project learning for
young adults (PUM-O)” has appeared. It was built at the initiative of the Min-
istry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ) and
on the basis of the Operational Program for the Implementation of the Europe-
an Cohesion Policy in the period 2014-2020. The program is aimed at vulnera-
ble groups of young adults from 15 to 26 years who have dropped out of school
or have not acquired the proper education that would allow them to get the ap-
propriate employment.
The PUM-O is formed as an upgrade of previously mentioned PUM pro-
gram, of which it differs considerably. Compared with the PUM program,
whose main objective was to enable young people to gain experience and skills
to continue successfully their education, the main objective of the new pro-
gram PUM-O is convergence and entry of participants into the labour market.
Extending the target group of the program is also reflected in the fact that the
PUM-O compared with PUM also aims at students who are involved in regu-
lar education, but threatened by the risk of dropout. Therefore, we can conclude
that the substantial modification of the program PUM is integration of partici-
pants into the labour market. The program is directed markedly to process and
provides in-depth cooperation between different resources, allowing partici-
pants to fulfil their personal career plan (Žalec et al., 2015).
As stated by the different authors (Možina et al., 2010), it is a fundamental
objective of the program to help young people to gain experience and knowl-
edge that would enable them to be successful in further education or the cho-
sen career path. It is very important for them to obtain functional knowledge
that develops general education: wide horizons and flexibility of thinking, get-
ting a positive learning experience, clearly articulated career aspirations and
developing skills in critical and problem-oriented thinking. This program en-
courages young people in three areas of activity, namely the spread of general
education, the formation of professional identity and socio-cultural activities.
