Description of organisation

MOCIS, Centre for adult education from Slovenj Gradec is a public, non-profit institution, founded by the municipality of Slovenj Gradec in 2000. Since its establishment, the institute tried to enrich the people of Koroška municipalities with new knowledge, by raising the level of education. We involve different target groups in our education, with special attention to vulnerable groups (migrants, youth, unemployed, seniors). Our main aim is to increase people’s involvement in lifelong learning.

We offer a variety of formal and informal adult educational programs. This includes the following:
• Primary school for adults
• Secondary education
• Language courses (English and German courses as a second language)
• Computer courses
• Courses of Slovenian language for foreigners
• Professional seminars and workshops
• Leisure courses
• National vocational qualifications (NVQ)
• Project learning for young adults PUM-o (PLYA)
• Study Circles
• The University of Third Age
• Support centre (information and support regarding adult education)
• Multigenerational centre, promoting interaction, cooperation and mutual support among generations
• Guidance and counselling centre Koroška (Svetovalno središče Koroška)
• Counselling programme 2016 – 2020
• Self-Directed Learning Centre (SDLC)
The Support centre offers information and support regarding adult education (formal or informal education). It also offers help and support to those who are seeking employment, further education or specific information. Our counsellors offer free-of-charge advice to all adults, who have any type of inquiries regarding adult education.

We offer a number of brochures and leaflets with useful information, as well as a website and our own social media sites.

Our participants represent a diverse target group:
- Elderly who want to keep up with the modern times, to complement their knowledge, to share rich life experiences and to socialize,
- Adolescents, whom we help to reach maturity, set goals and change their lifestyle;
- Young people who failed their basic formal education but have started to regain courage and try again,
- Unemployed people who have not yet given up hope and are looking for new opportunities for improving their life and gaining employability,
- Employees who want to improve their professional competences and are looking for mobility opportunities,
- Immigrants or foreigners who are settling in our area.

We pay special attention to young people with fewer opportunities to join the PUM-o program and face the following difficulties or obstacles:
- Educational problems associated with early school leaving and poor school performance;
- Economic barriers associated with low living standards, low income, dependence on the social system, long-term unemployment,
- Cultural differences associated with immigrants, refugees or descendants of immigrant and refugee families;
- Health problems;
- Social barriers to discrimination based on sex, age, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, disability and persons with anti-social or risk behaviours, offenders, former drug or alcohol users, single parents, orphans;
- Geographical barriers to limited public and private transport from remote or rural areas, peripheral regions, urban problem areas.

We cooperate with many institutions at local, national and international levels.

Inclusion topics

This organisation is willing to involve volunteers who face situations which make their participation in activities more difficult, from the following categories for different types of project:

• Educational difficulties
• Geographical obstacles
• Social obstacles