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Adult Education in Austere Times: An Introduction

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Being an Adult Learner in Austere Times

Abstract

Adult education can transform lives and is especially powerful for those individuals who missed out on educational opportunities earlier in life. Participation in adult lifelong learning activities can have social and economic benefits for individuals and society (Field in Second International Handbook of Lifelong Learning. Springer, Dorderect, pp. 887–897, 2012). However opportunities to access and participate adult lifelong learning is in significant decline, and neoliberal policies, both in Britain and globally, have constrained the practice of adult education. The book will address such issues by examining the success of recent and current adult education policy and practice initiatives in an age of austerity. It will also examine the political and economic contexts that adult education operates in, how this impacts on adult learners themselves and assess the future of adult education.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Nalita James

  2. Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Ellen Boeren

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  1. Nalita James
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  2. Ellen Boeren
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Correspondence to Nalita James .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, UK

    Ellen Boeren

  2. School of Education, University of Leicester , Leicester, UK

    Nalita James

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James, N., Boeren, E. (2019). Adult Education in Austere Times: An Introduction. In: Boeren, E., James, N. (eds) Being an Adult Learner in Austere Times. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97208-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97208-4_1

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97207-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97208-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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