These are times of rapid change. According to the Marrakech Framework for Action, adult learning and education (ALE) can and should play an important role in equipping citizens with the necessary skills to participate actively in these processes and shaping the future. In this article, we share case studies from community projects in Tunisia and…

In this article, we survey quotes, narratives, and theories of Black feminist scholars to provide some historical context of the Black feminist voice that challenged notions of achievable equity and elucidated the uniqueness of challenges relative to intersecting identities such as race and gender. The article delves into three Black feminist…

In the summer of 2022, UNESCO held CONFINTEA VII, a gathering of over 140 governmental delegations with the dual purpose of examining the current state of adult learning across the world and establishing a set of comprehensive goals for the next 12 years for the field of adult education. Held regularly since 1949, the International Conference on…

In this conceptual paper, I delve into the urgent necessity of reshaping adult education and advocate for the adoption of critical feminist theory as a foundational framework for the examination of adult education. Based on the theories of adult education and critical feminist theory, I argue that a critical feminist lens could help educators…

Climate change denial is often rooted in an array of conspiracy theories with climate change itself viewed by some as the real conspiracy. While not all of us are climate change conspiracy theorists, it is upsetting for most of us to learn and accept that our climate is changing, that it is primarily human-caused, and that it is harming people,…

Priority one of the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA) involves promoting adult learning and education (ALE) within a lifelong learning perspective. This article intends to describe how the MFA places lifelong learning into a new era of ascension that will be transformational towards ALE, sustainable development goals, the world promise of…

This article presents a general and overarching view on partnerships between adult education and STEM disciplines. Drawing from their individual STEM backgrounds, personal perspectives and experiences with such partnerships, and the science of team science, the authors consider the benefits of adult education for STEM, the benefits of STEM for…

In this article, we revisit the radical roots of adult education for social change by developing community-based anti-racism education through participatory action research. Drawing on critical race theory (CRT) as its theoretical framework, we incorporate principles of participatory action research (PAR) to conceptualize community-based…

Adults' development of literacy and numeracy skills that can enable them to navigate the demands of contemporary life and be prepared for the future is central to their economic, social, and personal well-being and the functioning of society. This article discusses the role of literacy and numeracy in adult learning and education, beginning with…

This chapter argues for the centrality of spirituality in lifelong and adult learning theory and practice. As embedded in human experience, the spirituality of learning, including exploring awe and wonder, is vital. We introduce the processes and outcomes of lifelong spiritual formation, profound learning, and human flourishing as underpinnings…

This autoethnographic study documents the stories of two adult education faculty members' experiences when their respective academic programs were closed. We situate our stories within changes in higher education economics and two theoretical frameworks: expectancy theory and psychological contract theory. Despite our isolation as the sole faculty…

Along with the rapidly changing social and economic context accompanied by COVID-19, concerns have been raised for the less-educated, low-wage workers who disproportionately experienced disadvantages in accessing workplace learning or training opportunities essential for job placement or career development. In response to the challenges of…

Interlocking systems of oppression are embedded and embodied in the world. Utilizing intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989; 1991) as a framework and perspective to interrogate oppressive systems, intersectional research (IR) has been produced across adult education (AE) journals. IR articles published in AE journals were reviewed using diffractive…

This article describes programmatic and instructional responses to the shutdown and the changing needs of learners that were triggered by the spread of COVID-19. It reports on the findings of a group of researchers who interviewed a convenience sample of state adult education staff, program managers, instructional leaders and supervisors, and…

In this chapter, we provide a snapshot of critical theories with salience for adult education to illuminate their enduring efficacy within the discipline, including critical feminism, queer theory, and race-based critical theories. Critical theories seek to make individual change while dismantling the structures that suppress freedom and…