Annex D. Considerations for implementing the actions
This annex offers further detail on considerations for implementing the recommended actions in this report. It contains the results of an online survey of adult learning stakeholders in Slovenia, and summarises the potential roles each key actor could play in implementing the actions.
Stakeholder perspectives on implementation considerations
The OECD undertook an online survey of adult learning stakeholders in Slovenia about the eight recommended actions of the report. The survey was open from 16 August to 20 September 2018.
Profile of respondents
Slovenia’s national project co-ordinator sent an invitation to complete the online survey to 265 individuals, 25 of whom completed the survey.
A range of stakeholders responded to the survey. The ‘typical’ respondent was an employee of a government ministry or agency with 10+ years of experience, who had participated in both phases of the National Skills Strategy project (Figure A D.1).
The results presented in this annex represent the perspectives of respondents, not of the broader population. In order to ensure the quality of responses, respondents were given the option to skip questions about which they did not have strong views. This has resulted in fewer responses to questions about individual recommended actions.
Relative importance of recommended actions for Slovenia
Survey participants were asked “In your opinion, how important are each of the following actions for Slovenia?” Across the eight actions, between 70% and 88% of respondents answered that the action is “essential” or “very important” (Figure A D.2).
Only two respondents suggested additional actions of importance for Slovenia, and these are consistent with the recommended actions of the OECD:
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Ensure an efficient co-operation between companies, the labour market and the adult education sector.
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Ensure the involvement of social partners in the co-design, promotion and implementation of actions, especially for micro-sized and small- and medium- sized enterprises.
Recommended actions: key findings
Survey participants were then asked to provide a range of feedback on each of the eight recommended actions. As respondents were given the option to skip actions about which they did not have strong views, between 8 and 11 respondents provided answers on each action. See Table 1.2 in Chapter 1 for a full summary of feedback for each action.
Time and funding required to implement the actions
Respondents were asked how much time and new funding would be required to implement each action.
Overall, respondents considered implementation of the actions to be relatively inexpensive but requiring a relatively large amount of time. Respondents also considered there to be a trade-off between time and funding – those actions that are relatively slow to implement are relatively inexpensive (e.g. Action 2 on improving an oversight body for adult learning) and vice versa (Figure A D.3).
Role of each sector in implementing the actions
Respondents were asked how much responsibility their own sector should have, and which sector should have lead responsibility, for implementing each action.
The respondents consider implementation of the actions to be a shared responsibility. No respondents considered that their own sector should have sole responsibility for implementing any action. Interestingly, respondents representing employers or the non-government sector were least likely to say that their sector has “no responsibility” for the individual actions (Figure A D.4).
Despite viewing implementation as a shared responsibility, respondents considered that the central government should have lead responsibility in about 75% of cases. For Action 5: Strengthen co-operation with municipalities and between sub-national actors, however, 50% of respondents considered that municipalities or regional bodies should lead implementation.
Key conditions for a successful implementation of the actions
Respondents were asked what they considered to be the three most important conditions for successfully implementing each action. Out of seven choices, the most common answers were:
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1. The responsible organisations/sectors are held accountable for implementing the action;
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2. The rationale and benefits of the action are understood by all sectors; and
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3. There is political level support for the action.
Very few respondents saw sufficient funding or legislative change as critical for implementing the actions. See Table 1.2 in Chapter 1 for a full summary of feedback for each action.
Potential roles for implementing the recommended actions
A wide range of actors in Slovenia has a role to play in implementing the actions recommended in this report. Based on the analysis, discussions and survey undertaken during this project, the potential primary (lead) and secondary (support) roles of each ministry and sector for implementing the actions is summarised below (Table A D.1).