Additional Vocational Education of Adults As an Element of Continuous Education

The article reflects the main stages of the formation of additional professional education. The authors analyze Russian and foreign scientific works, provide normative legal sources, and reveal the role of education as an element of continuous adult education. The article evaluates the current socioeconomic conditions for the reproduction of the professional educational potential of the society, using the example of the organization of professional education by employees of the penal system, as well as monitoring the quality of educational services provided in the Russian State Social University, according to the results of which the authors identified the need to develop new approaches to assessing the quality of additional professional programs. Based on the results of the study, the authors propose to optimize the system of additional professional education by improving the regulatory framework and requirements for the structure and content of programs.