This article about European networks as support for lifelong learning starts with an attempt to define the differences between European projects and European networks. The European Association for the education of Adults (EAEA) is put forward as an example of a European network. It focuses on the association’s mission statement, its aims and activities and how it can support adult learning in Europe. In this way it also demonstrates how these networks can reinforce transnational cooperation and…
In today’s societies literacy is regarded as the prerequisite for participating in the professional and private spheres of everyday life. It is regarded as a human right, a tool for personal empowerment and a tool to influence the behaviour of individuals, families and communities. Despite the international consensus that literacy skills determine opportunities and provide access to today’s information-based societies, many adults in both industrialized and developing countries find themselves …
In this report, three different methods to approach Howard Gardner‘s »Five Minds for the Future« are revealed, which are each a connecting factor to adult education. As a popular scientific article to psychology and education in the context of a general educational debate, »Five Minds« indicates that the concept of independent adult education is not generally acknowledged. As educational theory, it serves as a useful tool for determining educational objectives. As a scientific creation, which c…
A variety of investigations are concerned with examining competencies of professionals in fields of adult education, neglecting the question what characterizes the activities they perform in order to organize learning situations. By analyzing an opening sequence of two different adult education lessons, the author shows, how microethnographic approaches of analyzing videotaped face-to-face interaction offer new insights in how participants ordinarily deal with challenges of establishing and sus…
The following article focuses on the debate on organizational learning from an adult-educational point of view. In most approaches to organizational learning the members of an organization are regarded as the main drivers of organizational learning processes. However, such approaches do not systematically incorporate important presumptions of learning-theory, although this promises to create a better understanding of adult-educational experiences within organizations. Hence, the article present…
Citizens’ involvement increasingly gains appreciation in the public perception. Also in the adult pedagogical discourse the attention is raised in the context of lifelong learning. In this contribution the author discusses how learning processes in adult education, that take place in a societal action context, can be supported, guided or even initiated. On the basis of own empirical inquiries the author examines citizens’ involvement as an action- and learning field and asks for learning experi…
The perspective of administrational staff in educational organizations is barely in focus in adult education research. This paper reacts on this desideratum of research and tries to answer the following question: How does the administrational staff of Adult education organizations perceive the collaboration with the pedagogical staff? This question is answered within a qualitative research design. Therefore, the existing data of a qualitative study concerning cultures of teaching in adult educa…
Family is a learning space with special features. Learning processes do not only involve children but also adult family members. Taking the example of the acquisition of media competences, the older generation’s learning processes are analysed based on the qualitative IgelMedia study. With regard to adult education, the author concludes that intra-family learning processes attract attention. The focus should not only be on transferring new knowledge but also on the classification of acquired sk…
New Perspectives for Planning and Realization of Programmes. Steps towards Inclusive Adult Education. Part II The report focuses on the challenges of the inclusive paradigm in programme planning and implementation. Four strategic approaches are presented which facilitate the access to inclusive adult education. (1) Access to existing programmes needs to be generally facilitated for people with disabilities. (2) Cultural education is especially predestined to be in the focus. (3) People with …
Emotions in Adults’ Learning Neurophysiological research has shown the relevance of emotions in learning processes. Nevertheless, the exploration of learning processes and the development of competencies is rather characterised by a cognitive perspective. On the basis of systemic-constructivist concepts the authors show that sustainable learning only works when internal experiences are supplemented with external experiences. By that way the levels of emotional and cognitive learning can be c…
