Perspectives on International Adult Education

Abstract

In recent years, adult has emerged increasingly as prominent force on adult horizon. Although many adult educators have been conducting adult programs for numerous decades around world, Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE), formerly unit of American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE), has been most important catalyst for raising awareness and interest in adult education, stretching around globe to help adults learn in various cultures, contexts, and countries. The seven articles in this international adult education themed issue of Adult Learning (our journal of theory and practice) draw upon group of authors who share their experiences and broad spectrum of active engagement in facilitating adult learning through multiplicity of adult programs. Come with us on delightful trip as criss-cross globe! In first article, Roger Morris, from down under in Australia, reflects on his numerous significant adult encounters. He has done this during 30-year period of time to overcome what some call the tyranny of distance that separates Australia from other parts of world, including Asia, North America, Europe, and South Pacific. Roger has been deeply involved with United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and International Council of Adult Education (ICAE). In second article, Gretchen T. Bersch from Alaska describes in glowing temas how her grandmother and parents (because of their energetic, adventurous, and visionary penchant for travel) inspired in her lifelong interest in work throughout many parts of world. Asa consequence, Gretchen built figurative bridge flora Alaska over Bering Strait to Magadan, Russia (in far Eastern Siberia). She poignantly describes work she has done since iron curtain fell in 1988 between Russia and Alaska, and how she has helped destitute people in region where daily life is challenge often filled with unimaginable sadness. In third article, Peggy Gabo Ntseane from Botswana, Southern Africa, tells of her excitement for adult education, arising from Setwana Proverbs: we learn from one another, and a bag of locust can only be lifted if all lift it. Combining cultural socialization and indigenous learning models of collective learning with individualized learning models of United States helped Peggy focus her adult work on function of spearheading global social justice. In next article, Qi Sun takes us to Peoples' Republic of China. She developed her interest in adult through Scientific Research Institute of International and Comparative Education (SRIICE) at Beijing Normal University and discovered its connections with Russia, Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and UNESCO. …