The International Conference on Non-Formal Education (INEC) 2023 celebrates its tenth year of existence, marking the event with outstanding professional, cultural, and social activities. The first scientific event addressing non-formal education was organized in 2013 at “Lucian Blaga” University from Sibiu, at the initiative and the commitment of a few teachers participating in a professional event at Predeal.
The International Conference on Non-formal Education 2023 is structured in two components, plenary scientific sessions, and workshops, mainly addressing non-formal education-specific issues, together with other educational process-specific aspects. The primary objective of the conference this year is to share best practices on non-formal education and enhance the skills of participating educational agents in creating and implementing educational activities that benefit learners of various ages.
The involvement of experts from various European countries contributes to creating a dynamic, complex, and innovative setting for the non-formal education conference. To ensure that non-formal education activities meet the needs and desires of participants, it’s important for teachers and specialists involved to possess psycho-pedagogical skills. In addition, an open-minded attitude, activism, cognitive and communicational flexibility, adaptability, creativity, commitment to educational issues, and substantial enthusiasm are desirable. Most of these skills can be trained and developed during the workshops of the International Conference on Non-formal Education, but also in different professional communication and social contexts.
Fortunately, the International Conference on Non-Formal Education – INEC 2023 is more than a scientific event. This edition celebrates 90 years of pedagogical education in Târgu Mureș. Through the partnership and cooperation with the National Pedagogical College “Mihai Eminescu” in Târgu Mureș, a space of individual and collective reflection, constructive interactions, professional and social communication, beneficial mutual influences, friendship, respect and mutual trust has been created over time. Participants from Romania and abroad relate to this event with a special openness, affinity and joy, fueled by a special energy provided by pedagogical optimism, which is the premise for the formation of competences that generate qualitative growth, improvement, innovation and progress in education.