Adult education is more and more affected by social change due to migration. This paper analyses the marginal adoption of the topic by research in the past and describes recent trends, also in practice. Perspectives for institutions of adult education such as widening access to adult education for migrants, organisational development and professionalisation are discussed. Furthermore the author names challenges for research. There should be more cooperation within the field of educational resea…
Inclusion – An Organisational Challenge. Steps towards Inclusive Adult Education. Part 1 The report evaluates the option of offering inclusive adult education at adult education centres on a larger scale. The compatibility of the new policy statement in adult education centres and the principle of inclusion are pointed out. Implications of the concept of inclusion are presented, which lead to the conclusion that inclusion can only be implemented with a comprehensive organisational developmen…
In the usually clearly word- and text-oriented research field of adult education, for a while now, approaches have been observed, which understand visual presentations as data to be analyzed in a methodically controlled way. These data are used in order to generate and substantiate knowledge about adult education, whereby intensity, contexts, theoretical background and methods or methodology are different. This article presents these approaches in the research fields focusing on students, progr…
Receptive or hostile to continuing education? Course tutors caught between the pressure to conform and resistance This article presents the results of a qualitative dissertation. The author has investigated the acceptance of adult education teacher training courses among part-time and freelance teachers based on the example of the initial adult education teacher training qualification offered by the North Rhine Westphalia VHS (adult education centre) regional association. For the issue of a…
The scope of literacy courses. Results of a representative survey among adult education centres As part of the EQUALS project, the German Adult Education Association (DVV) collected statistical data on literacy courses at adult education centres; this article presents the data and compares it with figures from 1994. The number of courses has risen, as has the number of participants, but fewer institutions than before provide this service. Compared with 1994, the participants are older and t…
How to relate Natural Sciences to Adult Education Drawing on an intensive debate on the improvement of scientific literacy going on in Germany for more than ten years, this article deals with possible contributions of adult education. Starting with the marginal supply of science courses for adults, I focus on typical didactical arrangements and concepts. Based on an empirical study, exemplary didactical concepts are analysed regarding aims, topics, course type, and audience. The results are…
Going out from the »UN ECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development« of March 2005 the author describes which challenges have arisen from the establishment of the perspective of sustainability. In an overview of the different areas of adult education it becomes obvious, how variable the concept of ESD finds acceptance (adult evening classes, environmental education, global learning, academies). Eventually the contribution encourages to comprehend ESD as a chance for adult education an…
This contribution deals with the definition of adult basic education and its entanglement with interests and power relations in the field of public education administration of the German Laender. As the New Literacy Studies view literacy as a social practice that is related to interests and power relations, guided interviews concerning the definition of adult basic education as well as legitimising rationales from the perspective of education administration were illustrated. The interviews are …
This article focuses on continuing education for adults with a migrational background in Germany. Based on recent research findings, the authors call for a differentiated view on adults with a migrational background and point out prospects for research and practice.
Seit Ende der 80er Jahre hat sich auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen die Diskussion um ein neues Verständnis von Erwachsenenbildung in der Region entwickelt, das vor allem durch die Leitideen von Gemeinwesenarbeit und eigenständiger Regionalentwicklung geprägt ist. In dem Sammelband geht es um Erfahrungen und Perspektiven regionaler Erwachsenenbildung im Umbruch. Neben einer Zwischenbilanz mit Berichten und Analysen von unterschiedlichen Trägern aus der ländlichen und regionalen Weiterbildungspraxis …
