Asia

Abstract

This chapter outlines functioning of several associations, institutions, and organizations created to enhance adult education in Asia. The large size and population, and the diversity of the Asian region, make regional organization of adult education difficult. The Asian and South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) is a professional organization dedicated to adult education for development, membership of which is mainly through national associations and secondly through government departments. It fosters the exchange of information and experience between countries within the region and cooperation with other regional and subregional organizations relevant to adult education, as well as professional exchanges with adult educators in other regions of the world. Organization of adult education is indeed essentially a matter for countries at the national or subnational level. Regional cooperation relates to cooperation and exchange of experience for mutual benefit, but is hampered by linguistic as well as other diversity. The widely shared colonial tradition of most of the Asian region is however a bond, and a factor for regional cooperation of effort in adult education.