Between Global and Local – Adult Learning and Communities

Aims and themes of the network

Can adult education and learning be understood without reference to community and people’s daily lives? Our response is no, it cannot. We think that adult education can be understood if we look at the social life of people in communities. This network was established by António Fragoso (Faro), Ewa Kurantowicz (Wrocław) and Emilio Lucio-Villegas (Sevilla) in Faro, Portugal, in October 2006 to bring together European researchers committed to studying community development and adult learning. In 2011 António Fragoso stepped down and his place as co-convenor was taken by Rob Evans (Magdeburg).
In our perspective, different scales of community development need to be analysed together, clearly identifying the global and regional/ local dimensions of adult learning processes and social change, and focusing closely on processes of emancipation and on social movements they are part of. The hope was therefore to create a network capable of encouraging research on development in the context of globalization, employing territorial/ micro-scale approaches, urban and rural studies, studies of community regeneration, and locating learning places and spaces. Above all, we wish these themes to show the central role of adult learning in processes of community development.
Thus, this network considers it necessary to rethink the role of adult education and learning in community processes. The network welcomes all researchers who share our view that adult learning can in fact be understood as a real process to help people to read the world and change it, a skill that is so important in the life of individuals and communities.

History of the network

The Network usually holds meetings every year: 2006 (Faro), 2008 (Wrocław), 2009 (Magdeburg), 2010 (Seville), 2011 (Istanbul), 2013 (Ghent), 2014 (Lisbon), 2015 (Ljubljana), 2017 (Wrocław), 2018 (Opatija), 2019 (Pécs), 2021 (Seville – online), 2023 (Istanbul).

Convenors

Rob Evans   Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Ewa Kurantowicz University of Lower Silesia

Emilio Lucio-Villegas Ramos University of Seville

Publications

ESREA series

Evans, R., Kurantowicz, E., & Lucio-Villegas Ramos, E. (Eds.). (2022). Remaking Communities and Adult Learning. Social and community-based learning, new forms of knowledge and action for change. Leiden: Brill.

Evans, R., Kurantowicz, E., & Lucio-Villegas, E. (Eds.) (2016). Researching and Transforming Adult Learning and Communities. The Local/Global Context. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Fragoso, A., Kurantowicz, E. & Lucio-Villegas, E. (Eds.) (2011). Between Global and Local. Adult Learning and Development. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang.

 

Edited books produced by the network

Evans, R., Kurantowicz, E., & Lucio-Villegas Ramos, E. (Eds.). (2022). Remaking Communities and Adult Learning. Social and community-based learning, new forms of knowledge and action for change. Leiden: Brill

Evans, R. (Guest Editor) (2019). Education 2030 & Adult Learning: Global Perspectives and Local Communities – Bridges or Gaps? Andragoška Spoznanja 25(3)

Evans, R., Kurantowicz, E., & Olejarz, M. (Guest Editors), (2018). Andragogical Discourse. Dyskursy Młodych Andragogów 19, 9-161

Evans, R. & Kurantowicz, E. (Guest Editors) (2018). “Adult Learning in a world on the move”. Andragoška Spoznanja 24(1). https://doi.org/10.4312/as.24.1

Evans, R., Kurantowicz, E., & Lucio-Villegas Ramos, E. (Eds.) (2016). Researching Adult Learning. Rotterdam: Sense

Fragoso, A., Kurantowicz, E. & Lucio-Villegas, E. (Eds.) (2011). Between Global and Local. Adult Learning and Development. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang.

Evans, R. (Ed.) (2009/10). Local development, community and adult learning – Learning landscapes between the mainstream and the margins, Vols 1 & 2. Duisburg: Nisaba Verlag.

 

Conference proceedings
Cortés, M., Lugo, M., Vidigal, S., & Lucio-Villegas, E. (2022). Looking back for the future. Reconsidering adult learning and communities. Proceedings of the 12th Conference of the ESREA network ‘Between Global and Local- Adult Learning and Communities. Huelva: Coideso

Guimarães, P., Cavaco, C., Marrocos, L., Paulos, C., Bruno, A., Rodrigues, S., & Marques, M. (Eds.) (2014). Local change, social actions and adult learning: challenges and responses. Lisbon: University of Lisbon.

Ünlühisarcıklı, Ö., Güvercin; G., Seçkin, & Sabırlı, I. (Eds.) (2011/13). Positioning and Conceptionalizing Adult Education and Learning within Local Development, Vols 1 & 2. Istanbul: Bogazici University Press.

Lucio-Villegas, L. (2010). Transforming/researching communities. El Masnou: dialogos.red.

Kurantowicz, E. (2008). Local in Global – Adult Learning and Community Development. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo naukowe.

 

 

 

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The network also has a short film made at the 2009 Conference in Magdeburg by Sol Haring & Rob Evans.

Download here The Making Of…
Some remarks on the film