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.

Although there has been a great deal of rhetoric about learner empowerment in educational and community development circles, this book is the first to offer detailed examples of successful participatory practices in adult education spanning a wide range of program settings, such as schools, institutions, communities, and the workplace. The editors join with practitioner colleagues in the United States and Canada to document successes; to network about ideas from active projects, past and present, that have had a participatory component; to share experience, new knowledge, lessons learned, and reflections. The focus is on projects initiated with the intention that greater participation would benefit individuals and groups previously excluded from positions of control. The aim is to provide concrete models and suggestions to practitioners who want to develop the participatory nature of their own activities--from initiation, to organization, goal-setting, and ongoing leadership of adult education programs. Some chapters give detailed descriptions of the triumphs and challenges in individual projects, while others center more on theoretical analysis and reflection on years of experience. All, however, are rooted in particular experiences and give concrete examples from action.
"Participatory Practices in Adult Education" is a vital resource for both new and experienced practitioners--including basic educators, workplace educators, administrators, policymakers, trainers, human resource managers, and community development workers--who want to learn from the practical experiences of their counterparts, and is highly appropriate as a text for courses in adult education and community development.

Although there has been a great deal of rhetoric about learner empowerment in educational and community development circles, this book is the first to offer detailed examples of successful participatory practices in adult education spanning a wide range of program settings, such as schools, institutions, communities, and the workplace. The editors join with practitioner colleagues in the United States and Canada to document successes; to network about ideas from active projects, past and present, that have had a participatory component; to share experience, new knowledge, lessons learned, and reflections. The focus is on projects initiated with the intention that greater participation would benefit individuals and groups previously excluded from positions of control. The aim is to provide concrete models and suggestions to practitioners who want to develop the participatory nature of their own activities--from initiation, to organization, goal-setting, and ongoing leadership of adult education programs. Some chapters give detailed descriptions of the triumphs and challenges in individual projects, while others center more on theoretical analysis and reflection on years of experience. All, however, are rooted in particular experiences and give concrete examples from action.
"Participatory Practices in Adult Education" is a vital resource for both new and experienced practitioners--including basic educators, workplace educators, administrators, policymakers, trainers, human resource managers, and community development workers--who want to learn from the practical experiences of their counterparts, and is highly appropriate as a text for courses in adult education and community development.

Originally published in 1985. This book explores issues around education for women and uses the British experience as an example of what adult education in its variety can offer to women in breaking traditional moulds. The text raises questions about where women are, where they might be, and how education as a whole can be used by women, for women. The critique of adult education is both theoretical and useful for practice, including many case studies from areas as diverse as the education of minority women, setting up of women's education centres, working with childminders, and courses at the Open University.

"Third age" learning is increasingly commonplace, as is the provision for teaching those in later life, whether it is pre-retirement training provided by employers or more formal education. Alongside this, the study of gerontology is now common as part of education studies. This is an analysis of learning throughout the whole of life. Written as a text for both educators and carers, it demonstrates how the learning process works through life and how learning at all stages of life is best achieved.

This text focuses on the political context of lifelong learning. One of the key issues in education policy, lifelong learning is also an element of wider government policy, relating to economic, demographic and social change, and the widely discussed issue of social exclusion. This work covers the background, European and policy elements of lifelong learning as well as providing a detailed consideration of the linkage of educational and political issues in this subject.

In this book, Judith T. Witmer and Steven A. Melnick provide an overview of adult learning and its impact on professional development. The chapters provide a theoretical foundation along with practical advice on implementing team-based professional development among educators within school districts which will lead to true systemic reform.

Originally published in 1992, this book presents an alternative view of adult education. The author moves the analysis from the usual focus in adult education literature on skills and skill deficits, and concentrates instead on the educational potential of work itself. By linking issues of gender and the developing world, an alternative concept of work and productivity is formulated, serving as the basis for new approaches and paradigms in adult education. The book draws on two decades of studying critical social, political and economic, educational and feminist theory and examines the link between the international and sexual division of labour, and at the relationship between work, nature and technology.

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 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 1982 this volume examines some of the themes and issues involved in the combined use of broadcasting, distance teaching methods and local tutorial or counselling provision for adult basic education. Particular emphasis is laid on identifying means of reaching groups and individuals with special needs in literacy, numeracy and social skills. Detailed case-studies are presented, drawn from the UK, France, Denmark, The Netherlands and Canary Islands.

Originally published in 1988. This book provides an overview of women's experience, access and needs in distance education. It includes contributions on distance learning programmes in Holland, Canada, the South Pacific, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Kenta, Great Britain, India, Papua New Guinea, Sweden and Turkey. Within this diversity are common international themes on the nature of the educational process for women in distance learning, whether the subject is building construction or art teaching. The incorporation of a historical perspective and an evaluation of the prospects for the future contextualises the descriptions of the ways in which women are currently re-defining themselves through distance education around the world.

Originally published in 1985, this book was the first book in the UK to provide an overview of educational gerontology and examine the needs for educational opportunities for older adults. The book draws on developments and experience from the UK, Denmark and the USA and should be of interest to all concerned with adult education, gerontology and policy makers in the fields of education, health and social services.

Originally published in 1988, this book provides perspective on conceptualisations of adult education in the late 20th century, the range of providing agencies and the varying orientations towards defining the role of the adult educator. It draws together and contextualises a selection of the most important readings on adult education theory and practice. The book will help develop critically reflective practitioners on adutl education courses - educators aware of the assumptions underlying their practice and capable of identifying theories and placing both theory and practice within the wider and ever-changing socio-politico context.

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 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 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 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.

Originally published in 1991, this book gives international coverage of opportunities in youth development and education from a unique comparative angle. The book is split into two parts: the first focusses on the former USSR, Europe and North America, setting the issues within the wider context of the political debate of the superpowers. The second part looks at newly developing countries and their relationship with the developed world. There is a broad variety of case studies, including material on Chile, Botswana and the Seychelles - areas which are often overlooked.

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.

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.