Trends in Adult and Continuing Education in Europe

Colleagues from various European countries were invited to an international lecture series at the University of Duisburg-Essen to talk about trends in adult and continuing education. Looking back on this lecture series, we intend to examine different approaches to the term “trend” as well as to outline results of current research in adult and continuing education. We will then give an overview of main arguments of the essays presented in the following. Finally, common trends in European adult and continuing education are drawn out.

Recent international trends in Adult Education (AE) mirror the diverse realities this field is experiencing around the world. This article discusses the trend towards democratization through a revision of existing knowledge in three main domains: theory, research and practice. First, a theoretical framework of democratization as applied in AE will be outlined. Second, recent research developments will be reviewed as they inform the process of democratization through Adult Education which is occurring in different contexts. Third, an analysis of a specific process of democratization in the AE practice will be carried out, based on the situation in Spain.

The Plan to market transition brought with it the restructuring of the labour market, but also unemployment, new job profiles, and ongoing reform of the education system. Within the catch-up process of joining the EU and harmonizing the legislative framework and developments with the aquis communautaire, the effort to set up and implement effective policies was relatively coherent. But the results achieved so far show that much more efforts are needed, as the participation rate of adults in education is still only 1.6 %. In Romania, the “Lisbon process 2010” meant intensive changes and focused efforts in all sectors of society. Policy priorities were focused on developing vocational training for unemployed, marginalized adults. Positive trends can be identified so far: a diversified range of institutions, a national system of quality assurance and of APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning), increased funds allocated in the last two years, and an increased awareness and know-how in the field of ACE.

This article examines the guidelines and objectives of political (societal) and citizenship education in Finland during the past 40 years approximately. During this relatively short period different programmes have arisen which aptly reflect changes which have taken place, in viewpoints, in the social atmosphere and in citizens’ political interests. The article is concerned with the reports of two committees, the Adult Education Committee and the Lifelong Learning Committee, since the beginning of the 1970s and the Government’s Policy Programme (2003–2007), and the aims of political and citizenship education defined in these committee reports and policy programmes.

The paper reviews trends in adult learning in England in the ten years from the election of Labour government in 1997. It highlighted an initial focus on expanding and widening participation in a wide range of initiatives in the years to 2002. From 2003 there has been a dramatic narrowing of focus giving priority to funding qualifications related to the labour market. Throughout the period it highlights restless change in institutional structures.

This contribution summarizes the most important trends in further education in Germany as they were elaborated in a secondary analytic research project of the DIE (Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenbildung – German Institute for Adult Education) in 2007. According to the study, participation in adult education in Germany is increasing after long years of decrease, even though, overall, financing of adult education has been further reduced. Cooperation as well as competition between adult education institutions has increased. Course offers have become shorter, counselling and information have more significant roles than in the past, and those employed in adult education, especially teaching staff, have a higher level of qualifications than before. Adult education policy in Germany has varying aims as a result of the federal structure of the country. Incentives for vocational and workplace training predominate however. The full analysis, on which this contribution is based, was published in Bielefeld under the title: DIE (ed.), “Trends der Weiterbildung”, 2008 (Trends in Adult Education).

Continuing Education for the teaching Staff in adult Education in Europe – Situation, Strategies, Systems

This article reviews the results of the efforts for establishing a frame for the measuring of competencies and skills for the teaching staff in adult education which has been implemented on the European level (EQF). It is shown that, due to the situation in various European countries, a rather open understanding of the term “adult education” is in use, including vocational training and non-formal education as well. The article focusses on the teaching personnel, for it is them who decide on the outcome of the teaching process. The article reflects on the current situation of EQF and on the systems and strategies of professionalization in Europe. Finally, it suggests issues to be discussed in future research.