With the concept of lifelong education as the leading principle in planning and developing educational systems, the author outlines the four areas of adult education in Finland (supplementing general basic education, adult vocational education, developing citizenship, and individual self-development) and the demands placed on the educational…

As adult educators, we need to be aware that we are representatives of the fact that there are individuals with the knowledge and skills to accelerate authentic development. Our contribution can be through an educational process which will prepare for social action. Such action, assisted by adult education, has taken place successfully in the…

Teachers transform lives, and the ripple effect goes on for years. Three pertinent questions are asked in this paper: Where does this power come from? What is its source? and What makes teachers so special? Two aspects of these questions are the multiplicity of identities that coexist within each teacher and the passion inside teachers that…

The economic crisis facing the world today shows us very clearly that we ought to rethink, redefine and characterize with precision the new role of adult education. A new role should help in contributing effectively to the quest for new ways, truly different alternatives toward a true and authentic development. (SSH)