This paper draws on longitudinal birth cohort data for Britain to analyse participation in learning activities by people in their 30s and 40s. People in this age group have received less attention than either young adults or people in retirement. Yet technical change and the need for new skills make it important for them to engage in learning to…

The European Union's policies on lifelong learning, initiated in the 1990s, have significantly influenced the development of Italy's legislative framework in this area. This paper presents the key findings from a series of collaborative research projects conducted between Roma Tre University and the National Forum of the Third Sector. Undertaken…

Low-educated adults participate less in adult education than higher-educated adults. In this study, we analyze psychosocial barriers to learning while acknowledging that barriers for low-educated adults may be different from those of medium- and high-educated adults. An extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior is used to study training…

'Learn with NALA' is an online learning service provided by Ireland's National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). It supports the development of adult literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills at Levels 1 to 3 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) through a virtual learning environment (VLE) and associated supports. This case…

This article employs narrative methodologies to present the stories of three asylum seekers enrolled in two adult learning centres in the Lombardy region of Italy. The author draws on Axel Honneth's theory of recognition to provide an understanding of how these adult learners' experiences might impact their self-identity. Based on the narratives…

In the UK context of an ageing population, degree apprenticeships represent a new opportunity to study for a degree while working. Apprentices are full-time employees granted time to study for a degree with a significant workplace learning component. The aim of this study was to focus on whether degree apprenticeships are working for adult…

The study deals with strategies for legitimising non-participation in adult education and training (AET) in groups of people with the lowest levels of participation: low-educated workers, retired individuals and people on parental leave. It aims to identify and describe strategies for legitimising non-participation. Results are based on extensive…

This article explores the experiences of a group of women who having achieved success in education and returned to the adult learning environment again. A creative methodological approach allows the women to describe in their own words experiences of educational success and motivations to return to learning. Discussion points predominantly focus…

Many adult learning centres in England provide numeracy (or mathematics) education to adults in all sectors of society, including migrants from countries across the world. This study takes one group of migrants --- those from Zimbabwe --- and explores the relevance of adult numeracy education to the needs and aspirations of Zimbabwean adult…

This is a study of the process of biographical learning and how it can be observed in narration. There have not yet been empirical studies focused explicitly on the learning aspects of biographical learning, as scholars have focused more on the biographical part of the concept -- more on the question of what is learned than of how it is learned.…

While pedagogical translanguaging has been shown to have substantive positive impact on student learning outcomes internationally, adult education has not yet widely embraced the concept. This paper introduces the idea of translanguaging, the concept of encouraging students to rely on their existing linguistic knowledge when learning a new…

In the Swedish Prison Education Program only two out of ten reach a passing grade in their mathematics courses. Large variation in prior knowledge makes it difficult to meet the students at their level. This paper reports on a project aiming to enhance students' possibilities to access mathematics through individualization. Research findings on…

Purpose: This article reports on a critical race theory (CRT) analysis of the perspectives of providers of employer-supported educational opportunities and adult learners, who identified as Black, indigenous or as a person of color, and were employed in service industries. Design/methodology/approach: A review of the literature was used to shape…

The field of recognition of prior learning (RPL) in Quebec continues to develop with the incorporation of distinct terminology and policies based on the reality of contemporary Quebec society. In an analysis of the thematic nature of the RPL literature, it became evident that certain recommendations and conclusions from past research continued to…

The recognition of prior learning (RPL) has been implemented to varying degrees across Canada in secondary schools and post-secondary institutions, through workplace training models, businesses, sector councils and industry groups, apprenticeship, the military, and professional accrediting/regulatory bodies. RPL however remains fragmented and…