International and Comparative Perspectives on Adult Education

John Field was professor at the University of Stirling in Scotland. John Field published work in the areas of lifelong learning and social capital, and the history of adult education. His blog ‘Learning Professor’ was widely consulted across the world and served as one of the richest sources on adult education.

Prof. Dr. Ellen Boeren lehrt an der University of Glasgow in Großbritannien.

Chapters at a glance8
Introduction11
1 Key terms and classifications in international and comparative adult education16
1.1 Key definitions of adult education and related terms17
1.2 Typologies of adult education provision20
1.3 Examples of common types of adult education providers23
1.4 Summary27
2 Early ventures in international and comparative adult education28
2.1 Three phases of development29
2.2 Early contacts30
2.3 The interwar years31
2.4 The impact of World War II32
2.5 The increasing role of research34
2.6 Continuing institutionalisation from the 1970s35
2.7 Summary37
3 International and comparative adult education research40
3.1 Review studies on directions in adult education research41
3.2 Adult education studies published in international education journals44
3.3 Book series on international and comparative adult education46
3.4 Summary49
4 Theoretical approaches to the study of international and comparative adult education50
4.1 Theories discussed in relation to international and comparative education51
4.2 Foundational theories of international and comparative adult education52
4.3 Other theories relevant to international and comparative adult education55
4.4 Summary57
5 Methodological approaches to the study of international and comparative adult education58
5.1 The argument for international and comparative research59
5.2 Tools to select the focus of international and comparative research60
5.3 Selection of units of comparison62
5.4 Methodological approaches to international and comparative research63
5.5 Summary67
6 The influence of international governmental organisations on research, policy
and practice in international and comparative adult education70
6.1 The role of international governmental organisations71
6.2 European Commission72
6.3 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development74
6.4 United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization75
6.5 World Bank78
6.6 International Labour Organisation78
6.7 Summary79
7 International Surveys82
7.1 International large-scale survey studies83
7.2 Surveys of the OECD84
7.3 Surveys of the European Commission86
7.4 Surveys of the UNESCO89
7.5 Surveys of the World Bank91
7.6 Summary92
8 International and comparative adult education in the non-Western world94
8.1 Adult education outside the Western ‘comfort zone’95
8.2 Adult education in Asia99
8.3 The role of the Institute for International Cooperation DVV International102
8.4 Adult education research on and in the Global South103
8.5 Summary104
9 International and comparative adult education in a digital world106
9.1 Digitisation in adult education107
9.2 The importance of digital literacy108
9.3 The question of internet access110
9.4 The growth of open education111
9.5 Digital resources for adult educators115
9.6 Summary116
10 The growth of adult education advocacy organisations across the world118
10.1 International adult education advocacy119
10.2 International Council for Adult Education120
10.3 ICAE’s regional member in Europe121
10.4 ICAE’s regional member in North America122
10.5 ICAE’s regional member in Latin America123
10.6 ICAE’s regional member in the Caribbean Region124
10.7 ICAE’s regional member in Africa124
10.8 ICAE’s regional member in the Arab Region126
10.9 ICAE’s regional member in Asia and the South Pacific127
10.10 Summary128
11 International exchanges and partnerships for adult education professionals and learners130
11.1 Learning with and from each other131
11.2 Erasmus+: opportunities for mobility and cooperation132
11.3 DVV International136
11.4 MOJA – Adult Education Africa138
11.5 Summary139
Literature141
Tables and figures147
Suggested solutions to questions and tasks148
Useful websites161
The authors164