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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 a…
The EQUAL development cooperation project »Virtual Centre of European Education« is an example of how on the part of the European Union discrimination on the labour market is to be combated. In the article six subprojects of the cooperation are evaluated as to whether they correspond to European directives for the promotion of employment. The examined qualification measures implement standards like empowerment, equal opportunities, abatement of xenophobia as well as the use of information and c…
Starting out with deliberations on the relationship between the course of life and the constructed biography of an individual, this article intends to elucidate the contexts of learning as they are treated in various (inter-)national studies, by focusing on the individual’s course of life. To clarify which methodological design is most appropriate to study processes of (lifelong) learning and education, it then seems necessary to highlight a particular methodological approach. This leads, ultim…
Departing from the variety of understandings of “region” both in general and in Adult Education, the author aims at a new definition of the term against the backdrop of current discussions on space. Based on a geographic approach, the author analyzes recent literature in the field of Adult Education. He identifies a shift in both politics and research. He, suggests, with Schöning, to evaluate the concept from a variety of perspectives – from the point of view of the subject, of the organiz…
The report examines the transferability of Howard Gardner’s approach »Five Minds for the Future« to the field of continuing education. Along the »Five Minds«, he points out their significance as a plea for holistic education. Thus, future-oriented education does not impart a definite canon of knowledge but a positive preservation of learning. This pretence is transferable to continuing educational institutions which already include various holistic topics and forms of learning in their programm…
Immigration countries such as Germany require legal, social and educational measures to organize migration. Both, the immigrant as well as the host population need to be the concern of educational and training activities. Linguistic, intercultural and political educational programmes are particularly relevant. The REPORT on “Continuing Education and Migration” focuses on empirical research findings and implemented concepts: What are the key issues in continuing education to be tackled within th…
Accessibility – A Didactic Challenge. Steps towards Inclusive Adult Education. Part III Based on the access rights to all public education, the author evaluates the dimensions of accessibility to be considered in planning and implementing inclusive adult educational programmes. Constructional prerequisites are brushed though the main focus is on the techniques of barrier-free communication which are micro-didactically described more critically as a “two sense approach”. The last paragraph re…
Adult education and its terminology This article focuses on the interaction between the history of ideas and adult education. The question of the disciplinary and the individual self-conception, which can be extended by an approach from the history of the understanding of concepts, is central to this consideration. After discribing the possible usage of general terminology it offers different perspectives and levels for adult educational analysis. As a conclusion it discusses to which extent…
Gender skills for adult education Gender mainstreaming is a central maxim for political action all across Europe. However, little effect is yet to be felt in adult education. Where there is gender-sensitive adult education, this is still strongly oriented towards the differential approach. In view of participation rates in general and vocational adult education, and the division of interests within the segments, which is again gendered, the author speaks of a “doubly divided structure”. For …
In Germany numerous instruments exist for the documentation of individual activities of lifelong learning in formal, non-formal and informal educational contexts. Under the heading of »education passport« alone there are 48 different activities. A systematical and comprehensive approach to the recording, documentation and evaluation of knowledge, skills and competences is lacking up to now. The authors of the DIE project BIBER plumb the chances for a convergence process, which however faces pro…
