Theme: New Challenges, New Learning, New possibilities
The 9th NAEL conference constitutes a meeting place for researchers, policy makers, organisational leaders and practitioners. Speakers, plenary debates, and paper sessions will discuss how adult education can turn todays' challenges into new opportunities and support the development of societies where new possibilities are generated. The conference programme will incorporate a wide variety of local as well as national and international educational projects on adult learning. Group sessions, symposia and plenary debates will be interspersed with internationally renowned key speakers representing the variety of learning connected to adult education:
Speakers
- Michael Osborne, Professor - Chair of Adult & Lifelong Education at the University of Glasgow.
- Walter Omar Kohan, Professor of Philosophy of Education at the State University of Rio de Janeiro.
- Audrey Osler, Professor at University of South-Eastern Norway and University of Leeds, UK.
- Mie Buhl, Professor Department of Communication and Psychology,
- Professor at The Faculty of Humanity and Professor at IT and Learning Design, Aalborg University
- Sveinung Skule, Director of the newly established Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.
Background: New Challenges, New Learning, New possibilities
The three years since the last NAEL conference have been characterized by adult education encountering new challenges. The pandemic-initiated escalation of unemployment and its parallel economic recession have brought about an urgent demand for new learning. The continual transformation of informational structures and online media challenge the framework for democratic dialogue that have long been a prominent feature of Nordic adult education. At the same time, the increasing climate change calls for a green transition with entrepreneurial initiatives that promotes a sustainable labour market.
These developments are examples of an accentuated need for essential aspects of adult education and learning, such as the continued development of skills and competences, empowerment, and democratic involvement.
Adult education holds an instrumental position in our societies to meet new challenges by advancing new learning that will induce new possibilities.
The 9th NAEL conference constitutes a meeting place for researchers where they can engage in dialogue with policy makers, organisational leaders and practitioners on how adult education can turn these challenges into new opportunities. The programme will focus on the ways in which adult education can stimulate new learning to solve the dilemmas facing society, organisations, and individuals. Speakers, plenary debates, and paper sessions will discuss the transformation, reinvention, and reframing needed for adult education to promote societies where new possibilities are generated.
Conference 2022 Vestfold New Challenges, New Learning, New possibilities (link to the Conference's webpage)