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Message from the President - President Suwithida Charungkaittikul

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Editorial - Leslie Cordie

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Articles:

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Adult Learning and Education – Looking Through a System`s Lens
Heribert Hinzen

Abstract

Adult Learning and Education (ALE) is a fragmented field of policy, practice and study as can be seen clearly in respect to their governance, legislation and finances, but in many other aspects also. A more recent discourse in the context of increasing participation, reducing inequality, and improving quality looks at ALE as a system which has implications and interventions on national, regional and local levels. The article reflects current debates and events where ETF (European Training Foundation) and DVV International have taken the lead, and combines it with some prior examples and personal experiences.

Keywords: Frameworks, Institutionalization, Professionalization, Participation, Structures

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REFLECT, AI, and ALE

Idowu Biao 

Abstract

REFLECT, AI, and ALE are three typologies of literacy and learning methods  which, if employed individually, may exhibit instructional weaknesses. However, when the individual strengths of these literacies are combined for purpose of instruction, these literacies hold the promise of delivering a higher rate of success within literacy education domain.

Keywords: Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques, Artificial Intelligence, Adult Learning and Education.

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Embracing Adult Education through Lifelong Learning
Sofia Kasola

Abstract

 Lifelong learning refers to the continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills throughout life, extending beyond formal education to include informal and non-formal learning. Driven by social, economic, and technological change, it promotes adaptability, digital competence, and employability. Adult education plays a key role by providing flexible opportunities that support personal development, social participation, and lifelong skill advancement.

Keywords: Lifelong Learning, Adult Education, Digital Skills

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Brazil Innovates in Teacher Training and Seeks to Reduce Illiteracy Rates
Timothy Ireland, Daniele dos Santos Ferreira Dias, 
and  Dimítria de Faria Coutinho

Abstract

 The Brazilian government invites participation in the national pact to combat illiteracy and improve qualifications in Youth and Adult Education. In this regard, the Federal University of Paraíba, together with the UNESCO Chair in YAE, has achieved significant results in the continuing education of trainers and teachers in this field.

Keywords: Educator Training, Youth and Adult Education.

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One Step at a Time: Walking, Learning, and Resilience on the Fife Coast
Colin McGregor

Abstract

A New Zealand educator undertakes Scotland’s 200 km Fife Coastal Path, including the daunting Elie Chain Walk. Walking alone over eight days, he reflects on resilience, lifelong learning, scenic variety, kindness from strangers, and memorable conversations encountered along the journey, gaining pride, perspective, and a lasting sense of achievement.

Keywords: Scotland, Adventure walking, Coastal trails

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A Dream in a Storm: 
Women Learning Liberation 
Shirley Walters

Abstract

We are living through an ecological and political storm globally where long traditions of radical adult education are overtaken by hi-tech, AI related education and training concerns. The Africa-based Women Learning Liberation course is given as a counterpoint, to emphasise the ongoing importance of the radical adult education approaches to help imagine alternative futures.

Keywords: Women Learning Liberation, ecofeminist popular education, radical adult education, WoMin Africa Alliance

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Adult Education Academy 2026 at the University of Würzburg
Balázs Németh

Abstract

This short reflection tries to underline the quality dimensions of the Adult Education Academy of the University of Würzburg in Germany based on international collaboration of universities with their teaching staff and students involved in master and doctoral studies in adult education to improve professionalisation and comparative work to develop quality aspects of adult learning.

Keywords: professionalisation, profession, comparative studies, international collaboration, quality

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Dish to Dialogue: 
Tending the Fire After the Words
Ya-Hui Fang and Hsin-Pei Chen (Vina)

Abstract

Amid political and familial fractures, Dish to Dialogue invites dialogue to unfold through communal dining and attentive listening in rural Taiwan. By giving time and space to difference, it fosters trust and renewal without insisting on quick resolution. 

Keywords; Sensory Archaeology, Compassionate Listening, Communal Dining, Embodied Facilitation,

Temporal Ecology

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Letter from Brazil
Ana Ivenicki

Abstract

Brazil has treated adult education as a federal responsibility since the 1988 Constitution, addressing illiteracy through night schooling. Current and proposed education plans emphasize lifelong learning, multicultural inclusion, and expanded opportunities for diverse adult learners.

Keywords: Adult Education, Lifelong Learning, Cultural Diversity

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Ageing Society – Mandate and Opportunities for Adult Education Centres (Volkshochschulen)
Ernst Dieter Rossmann

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Abstract

This article is based on a keynote from the Lower Saxony Adult Education Centre Assembly in Westerstede in 2025. The speech explores the evolving mandate of German adult education centres (Volkshochschulen) to address the needs of an ageing society, particularly the diverse "Baby Boomer" generation.

Keywords: Geragogy, Active Ageing, Volkshochschulen (VHS)

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Citizenship Education and Adult Learning and Education (ALE)
Katarina Popović

Abstract

The relevance of citizenship education (CED) for the further development of adult learning and education (ALE) and its impact on (current and future) ALE practice from ICAE’s perspective. The background paper for supporting the thematic chapter of GRALE 5, 2020.

Keywords: Citizenship Education, Adult Learning, Globalization, Democracy

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Adults Still Want to Have Fun
Dorothy Lucardie

Abstract

Research since 2014 shows that fun and enjoyment enhance adult learning by boosting motivation and engagement. Over the past decade, studies have expanded from fields like information technology and environmental studies into areas such as language learning, medical education, and publishing, highlighting the growing recognition of enjoyment as a key factor in effective learning.

Keywords: Fun, Enjoyment, Learning

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Review of Generative AI Special Issue
Kaileu Manning and Shuqi Du

Abstract

This article provides a review of the recent PIMA Special Edition Bulletin (January 2026) that examined the rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into adult education, highlighting both its opportunities and risks. The Bulletin explored how AI can reshape learning expectations, challenge traditional notions of effort and understanding, and raise concerns about bias, misinformation, and inequity. Emphasizing critical AI literacy, the review underscores the need for intentional, human-centered integration that preserves ethical engagement and supports meaningful learning in an evolving educational landscape. 

Keywords: AI Literacy, Adult Education, Ethical AI Use, Human-AI Interaction 

 

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Resources   

• Literacy Matters

• PIMA Resources on the Web                                      

 

 

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Member News

• New Members

  • ​Casandra Coin-Sweeney

  • Nancy Pratt

 

• PIMA Annual General Meeting - 2026 - Meeting Announcement

 

• Call for next bulletin - Prisons

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• Obituary   -- Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Rita Süssmuth

                                    by Prof. Heribert Hinzen

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Book Review​

Mapping the Field of Adult & Continuing Education: An International Compendium
Edited by Alan B. Knox, Simone C. O. Conceição, Larry G. Martin

Reviewed by Leslie Cordie

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Commissioned by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education,

this four-volume compendium maps the evolving field of Adult and Continuing

Education. Expert essays explore adult learners, teaching and learning, leadership,

administration, and research, integrating national and international perspectives.

The collection offers a comprehensive, accessible resource linking theory, research,

and practice for scholars, practitioners, and emerging professionals.

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