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Professional development of adult educators

A European perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID7810956
AuthorsNicoletta Ioannou (0000-0002-0173-7624, Frederick University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume69
Issue3
Pages379-399
Publication date2023-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Review of Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-8566 • E-ISSN: 1573-0638
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11159-023-10014-0
OpenAlexW4384930240
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited15

This article provides an overview of major dimensions of the professional development of adult educators identified in European policy documents, relevant reports and research. The author reviews the relevant policy visions of the past two decades, aiming to determine the extent to which professional development of adult educators is visible in European policy documents, how it is conceptualised and under which terms it is discussed. The author argues that adult educators play an essential role in adult education and society in general, are an important factor for securing quality in the sector, and are considered to be a critical pillar of adult education. To perform this role well, they require specialised, targeted and systematic professional development programmes in a changing environment which affects both their learners’ and their own position as educators. However, the analysis of the policy documents shows that despite a consensus about the importance of quality adult education, over the past two decades little attention has been given to the initial training and continuous professional development of adult educators in practical terms. Due to a lack of opportunities, their professional development seems weak and still faces many challenges

Adult education · Engineering ethics · Faculty Development · Pedagogy · Perspective (graphical · Pillar · Policy development · Political science · Professional development · Public relations · Quality (philosophy · Sociology · Vision · Adult and Continuing Education Topics · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Higher Education Learning Practices · Public Administration

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    Open Access•Matthias Alke, Laura Uhl et al.•European Journal of Educational…•2024

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    Open Access•Simon Broek, Maria Anna Catharina Theresia Kuijpers et al.•International Journal of Lifelong…•2024

  • Teaching quality and teachers’ professional competences – their measurement, relevance, and association in adult education

    Open Access•Jessica Fischer, Hadjar Ghadiri-Mohajerzad et al.•International Journal of Lifelong…•2026

  • The impact of the Erasmus+ programme on adult education in Slovenia

    Open Access•Borut Mikulec, Nina Kristl•International Review of Education•2025

  • Adult Education Policy and the European Union

    Open Access•Marcella Milana, John Holford•Adult Education Policy and the…•2014

  • Learning in Adulthood

    Geoffrey Squires•The Journal of Higher Education•1993

  • Facilitating Teachers’ and Educators’ Effective Professional Development

    Open Access•Adamantios Papastamatis, Ευγενία Πανιτσίδου et al.•Review of European Studies•2009

  • Adult and lifelong education

    John Holford, Marcella Milana et al.•International Journal of Lifelong…•2014

  • Lifelong learning and the knowledge economy

    Open Access•Jacky Brine•British Educational Research…•2006

  • Teachers and trainers in adult and lifelong learning

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Citations per year3
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Highly citedNo

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