This paper examines and critiques existentialist interpretations of being within Paulo Freire's educational theory. The principle supposition of the paper is that through engaging in adult education, the adult learner can heighten their understanding of their lives, metaphysically. The paper also posits that adult education can develop the will;…

International and European intergovernmental organisations and the adult education research community all emphasise the importance of well-qualified personal working in the field of adult education. However, as previous research has shown, the diversity of the field is a 'challenge' to the greater professionalisation of adult education. Therefore,…

Using a personal narrative approach, I examine my experiences with teaching English to adults from a Balkan country. As I focus on understanding my teaching experiences, I frame my analysis through adult education theory to understand my role as an adult educator. The significance of this narrative comes from its focus on practice as I highlight…

The paper captures the professionalisation of teachers in the further education sector by shining a light on their everyday struggle to uphold their ethical goals in support of their students in a climate of performative and regulatory expectations. It reports on a small-scale qualitative study in which the six participants were either on the…

In line with Singapore's nationwide digital journey, the Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector of Singapore has launched the Innovation Learning 2020 initiative to catalyse the adoption of technology in the TAE sector. This paper presents findings from three projects we have conducted on innovative learning and discusses how learning and…

A strength-based approach to teaching digital literacies can advance language education for adults from refugee and migrant backgrounds, preparing them for life in a new country. This article draws on a 6-month ethnographic study at an adult English language center in Australia and explores teachers' perspectives and practices related to teaching…

California leads the nation in advancing equity and integration initiatives. Through the creation and dissemination of professional development specific to equity in California, adult educators are encouraged to work with state and local governments to advocate for policies, regulations, and laws that support immigrant and social justice…

The purpose of this study was to explore the life and work of LaFayette, nonviolence and conflict reconciliation from an adult education perspective. This study explores LaFayette's life from an early age through his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, his contributions to adult education, and his current views on social change. The…

Laclau and Mouffe have long argued the democratic possibilities of 'left populism' underpinned by their agonistic critique of liberal democracy. We are currently witnessing the attempted application of their theories by European political parties. However, there remains very little international scholarship taking up the challenge of situating…

Assessing teacher job satisfaction is a recurrent theme in educational research. Given the forthcoming reform of the Croatian adult education system, a survey of teacher satisfaction in primary adult education was performed. Teachers exhibited two dimensions of satisfaction/dissatisfaction: one with the teaching programme and process, and the…

Against the backdrop of an unprecedented increase in the number of older adults in Singapore, the escalating pace of change which necessitates continuous learning, and a dearth of empirical research related to instructional design for older adults, this study sought to fill this gap by investigating the strategies utilized by successful…

This paper outlines findings from a research project on Hungarian foreign language (FL) teachers' conceptualizations of helping senior language learners to develop their autonomy in learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to explore the applied instructional approaches to teaching older adults and developing their learner…

Professionalization in adult education is necessary, and several initiatives are underway to improve the professional situation as well as the competences and skills of adult educators. The relevance and importance of adult education is often stated. Large-scale assessments such as the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult…

The aim of this paper is to introduce a correction into the notion of self-directed adult learning by way of conjoining it with philosophically elaborated notions of autonomy, self-reflectiveness, and maturity. The basic premise of this intervention is that in andragogical theorizing, learners' self-directedness ought not to be thought as obvious…

The societal lockdown imposed in Canada in March 2020 to stem the spread of COVID-19 severed key points of connection for low-income Canadians who rely upon schools, libraries and even fast-food chains for internet connectivity. This has had dire implications for timely access to vital information and resources, and has revealed the extent to…