Peter Lang: The European Publishers.
ISBN: 0-8204-6992-0

Summary

This book arises from research that has been carried out by the partners in the Adults Learning and Participating in Education (ALPINE) Project which is principally concerned with increasing adult education in European universities. The Project, commenced in May 2001 and completed its work in June 2004. It is funded by the Grundtvig pathway of the European Commission’s Socrates Programme.

In 2001, experienced practitioners from 20 European countries (from 18 EU member states including 8 of the new EU member countries joining in May 2004 and 2 other EU applicant countries), set out to determine the nature and extent of the current provision of university adult education ( AE) within their countries. This survey is the most extensive of its type that has been carried out on the subject in Europe. In particular, national experts were selected to write authoritative accounts of this work for each of the countries represented. Initial drafts of almost all these chapters have now been written and reviewed.

The format of the book takes the form of an introductory chapter which will outline current issues in widening participation in higher education (HE), locating issues within the context of the policy that is developing for this sector in Europe. This is followed by chapters describing the position of AE in each of the participating countries. The book concludes with a chapter of analysis and conclusions which will indicate the possible strategies for developing this work.

Editors

Robin Mark is Assistant Director and Senior Lecturer in Lifelong Learning at Queen’s University Belfast and is the ALPINE project director. In his current post, he is responsible for a wide range of lifelong learning programmes including a part-tine degree for adult learners and a range of continuing professional development courses.

Mireille Pouget is the Development Officer for Widening Access and Social Inclusion at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and is based in the Division of Academic Innovation and Continuing Education.

Edward Thomas is the Emeritus Professor of Continuing Education in the University of Bristol.
He was a founder member of the European Universities Continuing Education Network
(EUCEN) and was its Secretary General from 1991 to 2000.

Readership

The book is intended for the following groups of readers: educational policy makers in the individual countries in Europe and more widely (including the staff of the European Commission); local educational policy makers; researchers; practising AE teachers; and students of AE and lifelong learning more widely. The expanding field of AE in individual countries is currently not familiar to the great majority of policy makers researchers, teachers and students elsewhere. There is a growing demand for analyses that can describe the field authoritatively and identify good practice, while also engaging in a theoretical critique of the transformation of AE and its contribution to lifelong learning generally. The research outputs presented here have already generated interest, both from practitioners developing educational policies and practice and from academic researchers working in the field of lifelong learning generally. As well as the European audience, the content of the proposed book is expected to provide useful information for AE planners, researchers, teachers and students worldwide.