Findings and Trends in Adult Education in a European Perspective.

Overview & Synopsis

Educational circles in Europe have recently proposed that society is moving from a consumer to a postconsumer society and that, with this change, adult education will move from a vocational orientation to a cultural emphasis. However, this hypothesis is not supported by recent events. For example, adult education in Germany has moved from a pre-World War II emphasis on liberal education (education for its own sake) to an emphasis on vocational training coupled with a demand for life skills education (such as parenting education). Language courses are also popular. The Council of Europe has been promoting the more cultural aspects of education in the more advanced countries of Europe. At the same time, however, UNESCO has been concerned with literacy and job training in those countries that are less developed. For the future, adult education is likely to incorporate all of these aspects, instead of focusing dominantly on cultural education. At the same time, however, increased attention will have to be paid to the educational needs created by increased unemployment and the discovery of life cycle processes. (KC)