International Perspectives on Older Adult Education: Research, Policies and Practice (Lifelong Learning Book Series, 22)

This important book builds on recent publications in lifelong learning which focus on learning and education in later life. This work breaks new ground in international understandings of what constitutes later life learning across diverse cultures in manifold countries or regions across the world. Containing 42 separate country/regional analyses of later life learning, the overall significance resides in insiders’ conceptualisations and critique of this emerging sub-field of lifelong learning and adult education. International perspectives on older adult education provides new appreciation of what is happening in countries from Europe (14), Africa (10), the Americas (7), Asia (9) and Australasia (2), as authored by adult educators and/or social gerontologists in respective geographical areas. These analyses are contextualised by a thorough introduction and critical appraisal where trends and fresh insights are revealed. The outcome of this book is a never-before available critique of what it means to be an older learner in specific nations, and the accompanying opportunities and barriers for learning and education. The sub-title of research, policy and practice conveys the territory that authors traverse in which rhetoric and reality are interrogated. Coverage in chapters includes conceptual analysis, historical patterns of provision, policy developments, theoretical perspectives, research studies, challenges faced by countries and “success stories” of later life learning. The resultant effect is a vivid portrayal of a vast array of learning that occurs in later life across the globe. Brian Findsen is Professor of Education and Postgraduate Leader for Te Whiringa School of Educational Leadership and Policy, Faculty of Education, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Marvin Formosa is Head of the Department of Gerontology, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, and Director of the International Institute on Ageing (United Nations - Malta). "This important book builds on recent publications in lifelong learning which focus on learning and education in later life. This work breaks new ground in international understandings of what constitutes later life learning across diverse cultures in manifold countries or regions across the world. Containing 42 separate country/regional analyses of later life learning, the overall significance resides in insiders' conceptualisations and critique of this emerging sub-field of lifelong learning and adult education. International perspectives on older adult education provides new appreciation of what is happening in countries from Europe (14), Africa (10), the Americas (7), Asia (9) and Australasia (2), as authored by adult educators and/or social gerontologists in respective geographical areas. These analyses are contextualised by a thorough introduction and critical appraisal where trends and fresh insights are revealed. The outcome of this book is a never-before available critique of what it means to be an older learner in specific nations, and the accompanying opportunities and barriers for learning and education. The sub-title of research, policy and practice conveys the territory that authors traverse in which rhetoric and reality are interrogated. Coverage in chapters includes conceptual analysis, historical patterns of provision, policy developments, theoretical perspectives, research studies, challenges faced by countries and "success stories" of later life learning. The resultant effect is a vivid portrayal of a vast array of learning that occurs in later life across the globe."--Publisher's description Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction....Pages 1-9 Argentina....Pages 11-23 Australia....Pages 25-34 Austria....Pages 35-46 Botswana....Pages 47-57 Brazil....Pages 59-73 Canada....Pages 75-86 Chile....Pages 87-97 Mainland China....Pages 99-109 Colombia....Pages 111-120 France....Pages 121-132 Germany....Pages 133-143 Ghana....Pages 145-155 Greece and Cyrprus....Pages 157-167 Hong Kong....Pages 169-178 India....Pages 179-187 Indonesia....Pages 189-200 Italy....Pages 201-210 Japan....Pages 211-220 Kenya....Pages 221-233 Lesotho....Pages 235-245 Malaysia....Pages 247-260 Malta....Pages 261-272 Namibia....Pages 273-283 Netherlands....Pages 285-295 New Zealand....Pages 297-308 Nigeria....Pages 309-319 Nordic Countries....Pages 321-331 Peru....Pages 333-343 Portugal....Pages 345-356 Republic of Korea....Pages 357-366 Russian Federation....Pages 367-378 Singapore....Pages 379-388 Slovenia....Pages 389-398 South Africa....Pages 399-410 Spain....Pages 411-420 Taiwan....Pages 421-431 Tanzania....Pages 433-443 Turkey....Pages 445-455 Uganda....Pages 457-465 United Kingdom....Pages 467-480 United States....Pages 481-493 Zimbabwe....Pages 495-505 Concluding Remarks....Pages 507-519