Adult Education

Over the last 70 years, interest in adult education has increased. In 1948, the United States began providing educational benefits to veterans. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have worked with governments worldwide to increase adult learning opportunities. Focus on adult basic and postsecondary education has gained increased attention as education and economic vitality are linked. Malcolm Knowles (considered the grandfather of adult education) introduced the concept of andragogy in the 1970s to capture emerging educational theories and practices designed for adult learners. Andragogy means “man leading” (as contrasted to pedagogy, which means “child leading”) and puts the adult learner in the center of an interactive learning process, rather than as a passive ...