Learning to learn is important and increasingly vital for people trying to deal with a rapidly changing world! Or, in the words of the European Union, learning to learn is one of the eight "key competences that citizens require for their personal fulfilment, social inclusion, active citizenship and employability in our knowledge-based…

Adult learning is now widely seen as a basic human right (the right to learn) and lifelong learning is similarly recognised. Adult learning within a lifelong learning concept has an agenda far wider than just employability skills. Yet educational inequalities between and within nations remain stark, as does the gap between rhetoric and practice in…

This article's starting point is a brief look at the changing political environment in which the preparation of CONFINTEA VI needs to be seen. It seems that the complexity with which people and their organisations have to cope is growing--the world of today is more complex than we had during the last conference in 1997. The UNESCO Institute for…

In anticipation of CONFINTEA VI, this article critically reflects on the last decade of English adult education policy. The United Kingdom played an important role in 1997's Hamburg conference by putting forward International Adult Learners' Week, and inspiring delegates by its enthusiasm for adult education. However the trajectory of the past ten…

This paper deals with specific characteristics of elders,1 bearing in mind both their cognitive and their non-cognitive aspects. Regarding their way of learning, the paper refers to basic principles for this group of people: active learning, situational analysis, their experience, awareness that they have--and need--specific time and rhythm for…

During International Adult Learners Week, a learning festival organized by a humanitarian organization celebrated the resilience and learning focus of the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Evaluations identified a need for more government support for adult education and the contributions of nongovernmental organizations. (SK)

The purpose of International Adult Learners Week in Slovenia is to awaken public awareness of the importance and availability of learning for all. Participation in the lifelong learning week activities has increased over the last 6 years, and a number of innovative activities are presented in learning festivals. (SK)

The slogan of International Adult Learners Week in Switzerland is "one hour a day for learning." Four goals of the lifelong learning agenda are government policies to promote access, public awareness campaigns, creation of public learning places, and development of networks for real and virtual learning. (SK)

In March 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao acknowledged that the situation in the Chinese countryside is desperate and claimed new resources would be devoted to healthcare and education. This announcement should have pleased architects of the Chinese "learning initiative" who are building learning cities and villages. The authors describe why…

International Adult Learners Week in South Africa has a strong emphasis on literacy. In addition to encouraging learner participation, activities challenge policy makers and government officials to recognize and support the importance of adult education. (SK)

At the invitation of UNESCO in 1997, more than 1,500 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations attended the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA V) in Hamburg, Germany. They laid out a strategy for lifelong learning that omitted rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, Two Spirit, and…

The focus of Adult Learners Week in Estonia is on establishing a lifelong learning environment. Evaluation results indicate a need for more publicity outlets and volunteer support to carry out activities. (SK)

Key characteristics of International Adult Learners Week in the United Kingdom are achievement awards, national broadcasts, a national learning advice helpline, local partnership activities, national and international funding, and themes such as Learning at Work Day. The nation has conducted adult learners' week activities for 10 years. (SK)

In Russia International Adult Learners Week highlights the democratization process the country is undergoing. Government attention to rural development and training and agrarian policy is needed. (SK)

This article is based on a broad study commissioned by Sida (Swedish International Development Agency) on the status and current trends in adult basic education in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The study included a review of relevant documentation in several languages, an electronic survey with key respondents throughout the…