Against a background of profound wordwide social and economic change, the concept of lifelong learning has come increasingly into the public eye. As educators and policy-makers rethink the meaning of education, the purpose of schooling and the place of learning in our everyday lives, educational institutions are opening up to those traditionally deprived of the opportunity. The books in this set, originally published between 1979 and 1992, including global case studies, reflect upon major issues confronting adult educators worldwide and discuss the role of adult education in social and community action examine the relationship between class and adult education look at the concept of culture and the transmission of cultural values in relations to adult education evaluate the role of adult education in reducing unemployment

Originally published in 1979, this book reports on a 3 year action research programme (The New Communities Project) which aimed in increase working-class participation in adult education. Basing their argument on the work of the Project, the authors contend that adult education must begin with the people themselves, to go on and assist their intellectual, social, psychological, cultural and political growth. In their view, adult education needs to be identified as something more flexible than 'classes', whilst also distinguishing between non-formal education and other kinds of community work or development. Providing different perspectives on the way in which a service relates to a particular area, the book's conclusions have a bearing on both practice and training in a variety of areas concerned with social intervention.

Originally published in 1985, this book argues that to make sense any attempt to improve the situation must take account of what we now know about adult growth and development, accepting as an operational imperative that it is as problematic and turbulent as childhood. The book claims that since adults flourish to the extent that they have a sense of personal recognition, the business of education is to enable people to gain that sense of being recognised and valued through any learning they undertake. It suggests that putting adults in charge of their own learning is the logical extension of establishing a public education system and so is a necessary step towards our society becoming a democracy of learners. This important book marked a watershed in the literature on adult and continuing education.

Originally published in 1987 and now with an updated preface, this book distils and reflects upon major issues confronting adult educators worldwide. Theories, practices and systems of adult education unify the contradictions between different traditions and phases, drawing on the distinctive perspective offered by the Chinese setting and experience of the Shanghai Adult Education Research Society on which the book is based.

Originally published in 1989, this book presents a variety of perspectives on the definition of knowledge and of adult education, by leading authors and practitioners in the study of adult education in the UK and USA. This collection of different and often contradictory views makes a detailed analysis of the epistemology and practice of adult education. Three major views are reflected within the book, all of which focus upon the role of the conventional disciplines as a 'theoretical' basis for adult education curricula and professional practice.

Originally published in 1985 this book addresses important questions about the nature and meaning of development as these concern adult education in the developing world. It contributes to the development debate as well as discussiong what part adult education can play in reducing poverty and inequality. It consists of 7 case studies by adult educators and researchers involved in adult education programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The introductory, linking and concluding sections draw out and highlight common issues and themes leading to conclusions about the potential of large-scale, mainly governmental, adult education programmes to effect social change.

Originally published in 1990 this supplement to No. 34 (1990) of the journal Adult Education, discusses the relationship between adult education and development. All the studies included in it focus on the reduction of poverty.The majority of the studies cover Africa and South Asia, but there is also one covering the Aboriginal indigenous people of Australia.

Originally published in 1985, this book argues that lifelong education has a vital part to play in fostering international political understanding. It also demonstrates how educational planners can use the concept of lifelong education to deal with some of the contradictions inherent in much of the educational system in the industrialised world. There is a case study from Japan and China and chapters on the role of culture, migration and labour mobility.

Originally published in 1988 this book examines the work of the first generation adult education theorists and the traditions that their work helped establish. They debated the issues, aims and content of adult education programmes and began to explore the often difficult relationship between social expectations and the potential of education. As well as providing an authoritative history during a period of rapid social change in America, the book confirms that many of the preoccupations of the early thinkers have continued relevance today.

Originally published in 1986, this book was written at a time of increasing pressure on traditional areas of secondary and higher education and changing employment patterns - a situation which still exists today. Then, as now, there is increased awareness that the continuing education of adults has a vital role to play in our society. This volume develops a socialist pedagogy within adult education, using a Marxist theoretical framework. It proposes socialism as the radical form of change necessary to remove obstacles to greater social justice and educational equality and studies the implications of this political position for adult education.

Originally published in 1991 this book analyses the input of those who made important contributions to the education of adults in the USA between 1607 and 1920. Examining the historical roots of adult education the book explores commonalities among innovators such as Cotton Mather, Benjamin Franklin, Margaret Fuller Ossoli and Ida Tarbell. It charts the development of important educational programmes including the American Lyceum, Chautauqua and local organizations such as mechanics' institutes and the Junto in Philadelphia.

Originally published in 1987 this book addresses practical issues in the education of adults in the USA but also encompasses theoretical and abstract ideas. There are chapters on 20th century initiatives in American adult education as well as education of the elderly and adult literacy.

Originally published in 1982 this volume provides nine case studies of particular distance teaching universities in Canada, China, Cost Rica, Germany, Israel, Pakistan, Spain, Venezuela and the UK. These universities were mainly founded in the 1970s to teach only at a distance. The book considers the provision of distance education by universities in general and the development and characteristics of the distance teaching universities in particular. Chronicling the emergence of new university structures between 1971-1981, the book also provides an appraisal of their performance in the early years.

Originally published in 1982, this book discusses the role of adult education in social and community action. In particular it presents a critical assessment of 'community education' and the theories of Illich, Freire and Gramsci and it proves that there is a radical adult education tradition in the USA, Europe and North America which can offer many insights into the contemporary debate about the role of adult learning. The material is based on a decade of practical involvement in community action and education in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where - despite deep political and religious divisions - community action has united Catholics and Protestants in a common resolve.

Originally published in 1981 this volume provides a detailed analysis of the factors - strategic, pedagogic, operational, organisational and financial -which should be taken into account in the planning and running of large-scale, centralised distance education systems at the higher education level. The book uses evidence drawn from Open University type institutions in Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and the UK.

Originally published in 1980 this book examines why adult education historically failed to attract working class students and whether experiences in Northern Ireland, the USA and Italy have any lessons to teach. Drawing together authors committed to adult education, the essays give fresh theoretical perspectives and explore developments of the post-War period, asking if they are designed to remedy educational wrongs or help perpetuate them.

Originally published in 1987, this book focuses on the areas of labour and employment education, the environment and ecological education, peacemaking and peace education, intercultural relations and multicultural education, education in the developing world and the changing role of the university and technological innovation. This international collection of essays examines the relationship of adult education and learning to some of the major dilemmas of late 20th century society and looks at the contribution of adult education.

Originally published in 1987, at a time of high unemployment, this book provides a critical analysis of the role played by education in solving unemployment. It examines the practical, social and psychological effects of unemployment on adults and argues that formal institutional responses are inadequate within any long term perspective, and that it is rather community, informal and often unofficial initiatives that will provide learning experiences for unemployed people.

Originally published in 1985 this book is a critique and comparison of the nature, structure and provision of university adult education in England and the USA. The focus is both contemporary (twentieth century) and historical and is interdisciplinary, involving both social scientific and historical modes of enquiry and analysis. A central concern of the book is the liberal tradition as it has operated in its different ways and the erosion of this tradition and its consequences for the contemporary structure of university adult education form a large part of the book's discussion.

Originally published in 1991 this book is a comparative study of systems of preparing adult educators in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Cyprus. The book argues for more formal preparation and training of adult educators with more Europe-wide specialist training and evaluation in teaching and management skills.

Originally published in 1988, this book examines the concept of culture and the transmission of cultural values in relations to adult education. It emphasizes the importance of perceiving culture as a social construct which is part of a specific value system and questions how cultural development is promoted or hindered by adult education. It also describes a number of case studies from popular courses such as painting and pottery.

What does 'professionalism' mean for teachers and trainers in further education colleges or adult education centres? Over the last twenty years, ideas about professionalism and professional identity within the post-compulsory sector have been shaped and reshaped by successive policies, standards, and professional bodies. Yet, these ideas themselves remain controversial and continue to be the focus of debate as well as research. This book gathers together a series of articles published over the last ten years, providing critical and research-based perspectives on professionalism within post-compulsory education and training. The twelve chapters that are presented here explore issues such as professional standards and continuing professional development and their impact on current definitions and frameworks of professionalism, as well as the policies that have shaped these processes. These are issues that are of relevance and importance not only to practitioners and researchers in the post-compulsory sector, but to anyone who is concerned with contemporary debates about what it means to be 'a professional' in education and training. The chapters in this book were originally published as articles in Research in Post-Compulsory Education.

This work offers carers, practitioners and managers: a structure for enabling adults with a range of complex needs to develop their individual skills and experience; and a flexible framework which is suitable for specialist colleges and training centres for people with learning difficulties.;The book is suitable for use in mainstream colleges enrolling students with more complex needs, social services departments and day centres, therapy centres, leisures services and homes.

Responding to the emerging needs of lifelong learners arguably represents one of the most fundamental challenges facing higher education systems of the countries of the developing world. At the start of the new century the concept of Lifelong Learning may indeed be counted as one of the the key organising concepts underlying public policy in many countries. The interpretation of the concept, however, remains highly contested.
This timely book throws new light on the dramatic changes taking place in higher education through an exploration of the participation of "non-traditional" students in ten countries. Among others, the following areas are explored:
* the complex reality behind the statistics on participation in higher education in five European countries (Austria, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom), North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand
* contrasting perceptions of lifelong learning
* changing patterns of participation by adults in higher education
* national and institutional policies and innovations to accommodate non-traditional students and new forms of study
* conclusions for policy, practice and research
Higher Education for Lifelong Learners will be of interest to academics, researchers and students involved with higher education, lifelong learning, and comparative education as well as policy makers, educational managers and administrators. The contributions reveal a remarkable transformation in the student body and in the way learners pursue their studies, highlighting the international impact of increasing marketisation and differentiation on the nature of the higher education accessible to potential lifelong learners.

A collection of essays written by arts and humanities scholars across disciplines, this book argues that higher education has been compromised by its uncritical acceptance of our culture's standards of productivity, busyness, and speed. Inspired by the Slow Movement, contributors explain how and why university culture has come to value productivity over contemplation and rapidity over slowness. Chapter authors argue that the arts and humanities offer a cogent critique of fast culture in higher education, and reframe the discussion of the value of their fields by emphasizing the dialectic between speed and slowness.