Times of Change: The Role of Adult Education in Times of Crisis

European societies, and beyond, are currently undergoing a social, economic and political crisis. The ‘crisis’ has had an impact upon adult education at the institutional level in higher education through to community education in terms of cuts and reduced funding in relation to staffing, resources and provision. This situation reveals a contradiction in lifelong learning policy as education is perceived as the cure for economic problems and increasing economic competiveness by national governments and the EU. As adults experience turning point moments and transitions in their lives as a result of the crisis many are looking to and accessing learning as a way out of their troubles and a way forward to a better future. Engagement in the learning process involves transformation and changing identity as well as gaining educational, social and economic capital and benefits.

Once the journey has begun it may not always be an easy one and some may struggle with external and inner constraints while others will be determined to keep going and use their agency to develop a positive learning career. The transitional space of a learning institution may enable an individual to reflect back on their past and present biography while also imagining a future identity of who they want to be and become. A transitional space, therefore, implies being in-between in terms of identity whereby an individual lets go of part or all of their old identity and changes to assume a new or modified one. For some this may be problematic as it may distance them from their class, family and friends.

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Last updated: Tue Mar 05 11:16:49 CET 2013