Adult education

Adult Education Survey (AES) is aimed at acquiring internationally comparable data on adult participation in lifelong learning activities – formal education, non-formal education and training, informal learning.

The survey was conducted in 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2022 (next is planned for 2028) using methodology developed by the Eurostat. The statistics produced based on the survey results is comparable at EU level.

Summary data of the survey are used by the Ministry of Education and Science to monitor implementation of lifelong learning strategy. Lifelong learning strategy is implemented by offering all inhabitants of Latvia willing or required to acquire compulsory education an education ensuring inclusion thereof in the labour market and active social participation. The information obtained in the survey is also used to identify educational opportunities in various regions of the country, improve national adult education system as well as by scientists, students and other interested parties.

People, non-formal education and training activities.

Target population of the survey covers usually residents of Latvia aged 25–64 living in private households.

Starting from 2022 the target population cover people aged 18–69.

Regulations covering collection of data in 2022:

• Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 October 2019  establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples, amending Regulations (EC) No 808/2004, (EC) No 452/2008 and (EC) No 1338/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98 (Text with EEA relevance),
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/861 of 21 May 2021 specifying the technical items of the data set and establishing the technical formats for transmission of information on the organisation of a sample survey in the education and training domain pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance),
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/859 of 4 February 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying the number and titles of the variables for the data set in the education and training domain (Text with EEA relevance).

Regulations covering previous survey waves:

• Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance),
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 1175/2014 of 30 October 2014  implementing Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning, as regards statistics on the participation of adults in lifelong learning and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) No 823/2010 (Text with EEA relevance),
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 823/2010 of 17 September 2010 implementing Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning, as regards statistics on the participation of adults in lifelong learning (Text with EEA relevance).

Statistics database

Eurostat (Statistical office of the European Union) is publishing Europe-wide statistics and indicators that enable comparisons between countries and regions on its website. See section Education and training.

Comparable data are available on years when the survey was conducted: 2007, 2011, 2016 and 2022.

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Until now four AES waves have been conducted in Latvia – first in 2007 (pilot survey), second in 2011, third in 2016 and fourth in 2022.

AES data were collected with the help of sample survey using questionnaire developed by the CSB. Survey data are extrapolated to the whole target population.

Survey questionnaire has the following sections:

• Information on the household and individual,
• Access to information about learning possibilities and guidance,
• Participation in formal education,
• Participation in non-formal education and training,
• Difficulties in participation in education,
• Informal learning,
• Languages.

The following data collection methods were used in the AES:

• computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) (in 2011, 2016 and 2022),
• computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) (in 2016 and 2022),
• computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) (in 2016 and 2022),
• pen-and-paper personal interviewing (PAPI) (in 2011).

The AES 2022 questionnaire developed by the CSB was used to survey 5 492 people aged 18–69 throughout the whole Latvia. The questions covered participation in education and training activities in the last 12 months.

During the field work period (from 1 September to 14 September 2022), respondents were able to submit online questionnaires (CAWI), while from 15 September 2022 to 15 January 2023 face-to-face interviews (CAPI) and telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted. CAPI was mainly used in case it was not possible to reach respondent by phone. CSB did also set up a toll-free helpline where respondents were consulted by the Interviewer’s Coordination Section employees. Additionally, respondents were able to send all their questions to an e-mail address pia@csp.gov.lv.

In the AES 2016 answers to the AES questionnaire questions developed by the CSB were given by 5 803 people aged 25–64 throughout the whole territory of Latvia. The questions covered participation in education activities within the last 12 months.

During the field work period (from 14 October to 4 November 2016 14) respondents were able to submit online questionnaires (CAWI). From 10 November to 31 January 2017 face-to-face interviews (CAPI) and telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted. For the CAWI period CSB set up a helpline where all respondent questions were answered by the project manager and employees engaged in the questionnaire development. During the rest field work period respondents were consulted by the Interviewer’s Coordination Section staff. Additionally, respondents were able to send all their questions to an e-mail address izglitiba@csp.gov.lv.

In AES 2011, 5 048 inhabitants of Latvia aged 25–64 took part in the survey. They were asked about participation in education and training activities during the period from September 2010 to September 2011. The interviews were conducted by using face-to-face interviews (CAPI).

In AES 2007, 2 314 inhabitants of Latvia aged 25–64 took part in the survey. They were asked about participation in educational and training activities within the period from June 2006 to June 2007. The interviews were conducted by using face-to-face interviewing and paper questionnaires (PAPI).

AES is a sample survey, and the data acquired are extrapolated to whole target population of the survey.