This article's starting point is a brief look at the changing political environment in which the preparation of CONFINTEA VI needs to be seen. It seems that the complexity with which people and their organisations have to cope is growing--the world of today is more complex than we had during the last conference in 1997. The UNESCO Institute for…

Migration and its implications in terms of the integration of migrants have become a major challenge for most countries in the global economy. They generate many different learning (as well as social, political, and other personal) needs, and thus make big demands on adult education. Sending and receiving societies as well as the migrants,…

The article argues that poverty must be understood within a human rights approach, moving beyond a narrow economic definition. Recognising the multidimensional character of poverty also leads to acknowledge that there are no universal answers. Solutions must be culturally determined and this poses one of the major challenges for adult education…

This paper assumes that contemporary Western society is a consumer society and argues that the need of global capitalism to sell its commodities in the market place is the fundamental force behind consumerism. A model of globalisation is discussed. In it, we see how the control of information technology means that producers have the power to…

Challenges of globalization for adult education are exposing the economic core, confronting the governance structures, assessing liberal democracy, affirming the importance of the local, and caring for the cultural environment. Their common thread is citizenship. (SK)

The 2008 EFA Global Monitoring Report recognises adult literacy as the most neglected of the EFA goals. It is neglected most obviously in respect of the financial allocations made by governments and donors. This shortage of financing creates a dangerous situation in which adult educators seek to convince politicians to invest, based on false…

Small states and islands have strengths and weaknesses that affect adult continuing education: marginalization and threats to their legitimacy from economic globalization; educational globalization, with increasing credentialism and sectoralization; and limited resources for technology and teacher development. (SK)

The ideological shift by nation-states to "a knowledge-based economy" (also referred to as "knowledge-based society") is causing changes in the workplace. Brought about by the forces of globalisation and technological innovation, the ideologies of the "knowledge-based economy" are not limited to influencing the…

Contemporary neo-conservative and globalisation practices and policies have a powerful impact on every aspect of human life. Policies enacted by the governments to accumulate wealth have destroyed natural environments like nothing before. As the negative impact of neo-conservatism and globalisation grew on people's lives and environment, the…

Outlines basic assumptions and principles underlying adult education and describes today's challenges: maintaining democracy, technological changes, explosion of information, global competition/cooperation, environment, and universal human rights. Advocates a holistic world view of adult education. (SK)

Activities are sustainable when they use materials in cycles, use reliable energy sources, and derive from human potential. Nonsustainable activities require nonrenewable resources, cause environmental degradation, require quantities of resources not available to all, and lead to extinction of other life forms. (SK)

The guest editor introduces a six-article feature on alternative relationships between futures studies and adult education by discussing education as a futures-oriented activity, revealing questions inherent in futurism, recounting its development as a discipline, and stating the adult educator's special obligation to foster discussion of…

The International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) is an international institution whose mission is to promote lifelong learning as a necessary component for people to contribute creatively to their communities and to live in independent and democratic societies. In that sense, as an active member of the International Council of the World Social…

The Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, directed by the Minister Marina Silva, recently awarded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the "World Champion" prize. The four courses of the agency's direction are: (1) To enhance the National System of the Environment (SISNAMA); (2) To "mainstream" the…

One of the workshops presented at the 7th International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) Assembly was focused on environment, ecology, and sustainable development. The workshop had participants from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, North America and the South Pacific. This article presents a list of recommendations from the workshop.