Emergence of Learning Societies

Provides an international comparative study on the world of adult learning activities. This book offers a systematic attempt to provide empirical information on some critical issues regarding the transformation of adult and continuing education in post-industrial societies.

Introduction. Who participates in organized adult learning? (P. Belanger, S. Valdivielso). The amplitude and the diversity of organized adult learning. An overview of adult education participation in industrialized countries (P. Belanger). The "National Windows". Canada: the growing economic imperative (P. Doray, K. Rubenson). The Netherlands: impacts of a new policy environment (M. van der Kamp). Poland: adult learning and economic transition (I. Bialecki). Sweden: the impact of the politics of participation (K. Rubenson). The United States of America: the current predominance of learning for the job (T. Valentine). Switzerland: growing demand, fragmented responses (A. Borkowsky). The Canary Islands: a dual learning society (S. Valdivielso, G. Rodriguez). Prospective Developments. Methodologies for monitoring adult education participation (A. Hasan, A. Tuijnman). Conclusion (P. Belanger). Appendix: The adult education participation survey, part of the international adult literacy survey. Appendix A. The adult education participation survey. Appendix B. A description of data-collection procedures. Contents of Chapters. Index of Names. Bibliography. Notes on Editors and Contributors.