Developing Social Equity in Australian Adult Education


Book Description

Developing Social Equity in Australian Adult Education: Lessons from the Past presents a case study of the trajectory of an Australian adult basic education program in New South Wales from its humanist, social justice beginnings, through forty years of destabilising change. It identifies the influences and influencers that have directed this change; those that were responsible for the creation of the field in its foundation years, and that were displaced by other, more powerful actors representing the global influence of the neoliberal ideology. The story is told largely through archival evidence and the voices of those practitioners who helped shape the discourse and practice of the foundation years, and who were required to respond to constantly changing policies and socio-economic contexts. It discusses some lessons that might be learnt from the past in order that a new set of actors might be mobilised to promote an alternate discourse. This book will appeal to students and scholars of social justice and adult education, and practitioners involved in adult education.




Literacy in the Lives of Working-Class Adults in Australia


Book Description

Adopting a 'social practice' approach to literacy research based on ethnographic methods, this book provides a strong critique of dominant understandings of the role of literacy in the lives of adults in Australia. It explores how groups of working-class adults can manage the literacy practices of their everyday lives by drawing on social networks of support. It is based on research conducted by the author over a forty-year career in adult literacy education, featuring the voices of varied adult groups, including: prisoners, the long-term unemployed, local council workers, manufacturing workers, adult literacy students, marginalised young people, vocational students, and patients living with a chronic illness (type 2 diabetes). Each chapter explains how dominant society views these adult groups in relation to literacy, and provides a qualitative examination at the local level of how members of these groups manage the literacy practices of their everyday lives.




Lifelong Learning, Participation and Equity


Book Description

In many countries, schools, universities and other traditional learning institutions are not providing for the educational needs of all members of the community. Many communities, particularly in regional, rural and disadvantaged areas, can offer only limited educational options. This book addresses the challenge of identifying effective ways of accommodating the learning needs of all people and in so doing achieving the goals of lifelong learning for all.







Workforce Development


Book Description

This book is the second in a series of two volumes that reviews a broad range of strategies and practices undertaken as workplace development activities in a post-global financial crisis period when organisational volatility and survival were foremost in the minds of leaders. Drawing mainly from a wide range of major research projects conducted Australia and with some contributions from international authors, this second book is a compilation of contemporary themes and applications that were developed from individual research projects. During the global financial crisis, the Australian economy out-performed many other developed countries, but it was not immune from international pressures such as global competition, market fluctuations and an increasingly mobile workforce. These issues are reflected in many of the chapters and the combined work will inform readers about the major workforce development challenges facing public and private sector organisations. The book blends relevant literature with rich empirical evidence gathered from large and small organisations and includes application tools developed by researchers who are experts in their field. This book will be of scholarly interest to a broad audience of academics, industry leaders, human resource practitioners and students in adult education, business, psychology and social science disciplines. Moreover, the book will be of interest to education and training professionals, management consultants, and more generally, people who follow the evolution of work and its impact on contemporary society.​




Adult Education and Social Justice: International Perspectives


Book Description

This book investigates the ways in which the social purposes of adult education are (re)interpreted over time, and between the global south and global north. It brings together thirty-seven authors from fourteen countries with extensive experience as academics and/or practitioners in the field. The book is inspired by the work and life of Lalage Bown, a leading proponent of post-colonial and inclusive visions of education for all. Over her long life she worked tirelessly to promote access to basic and higher education for people of all ages and backgrounds: with a deep commitment to striving for greater equality for women. Following an Introduction, the book is structured around four main themes: Adult Education and Social Justice; Decolonisation, Post-Colonialism and Indigenous Knowledge; From Literacy to Lifelong Learning; and, Fostering Excellence, Policy Development and Supporting Future Generation of Adult Educators. The book concludes with reflections on Lalage Bown’s Enduring Legacy.







Promoting the Socio-Economic Wellbeing of Marginalized Individuals Through Adult Education


Book Description

The socioeconomic exclusion of marginalized individuals, including youths and adults, persists in society, leading to inequality, poverty, and lack of fulfillment in life. The digital divide continues to widen the gap between those who have access to education and those who do not, particularly in the adult education space. Promoting the Socio-Economic Wellbeing of Marginalized Individuals Through Adult Education is a research book which offers a comprehensive solution to the problem of the widening divide. This book provides a collection of original research and best practices in adult education that focus on integrating ICT into teaching and learning. This approach is particularly relevant in the current era of the digital divide, where access to education is crucial for socioeconomic development. Moreover, the book emphasizes the importance of decolonization and social justice in the era of digital migration, a crucial step toward creating a fair and just society. Edited by Dr. Sampson Tawiah, a leading scholar in the field of adult education, this book offers theoretical and scientific research reports that benefit postgraduate students, scholars, policymakers, and education providers in general. The book covers a wide range of topics, including sustainable economic change, leadership and management within adult education, and quality assurance in adult education, among others. This must-read book is ideal for anyone interested in creating a fair and just society, and is an essential resource for anyone working in the field of adult education. The integration of ICT into adult education practices is a major focus of the book, offering a practical approach to bridging the digital divide and improving access to education for marginalized individuals.




Student Equity in Australian Higher Education


Book Description

This book examines twenty-five years of the Australian framework for student equity in higher education, A Fair Chance for All. Divided into two sections, the book reflects on the legacy of equity policy in higher education, the effectiveness of current approaches, and the likely challenges facing future policymakers. The first section explores the creation of the framework, including the major elements of the policy, the political context of its development, and how it compares with international models developed during the same period. The performance of the six student equity groups identified within the framework is also examined. The second section of the book considers future trends and challenges. The Australian university sector has undergone seismic change in the past twenty-five years and faces further changes of equal magnitude. The twenty-fifth anniversary of A Fair Chance for All comes as Australian higher education is poised for another wave of transformation, with rising expansion, competition, and stratification. While the emerging landscape is new, the questions have changed little since A Fair Chance for All was first conceived: How should we define student equity, and what policies are likely to promote it?




Adult Learner at Work


Book Description

Knowledge is one of today's few meaningful resources. Equip yourself to ride the rollercoaster of racing change, globalism and technological super-innovation that is life and work in our age. Completely revised and updated for the 2000s, The Adult Learner at Work, 2nd edition is for educators, trainers and managers who want to stay in touch with the latest thinking in their fields. Dr Robert Burns explains the important changes that have swept through the field of post-compulsory education and the worldwide swing to the lifelong learning as the gateway to a learning society. When work, education and life satisfaction can truly intermesh, sustainable prosperity becomes achievable. Robert Burns explores such questions as: * What conditions have created lifelong learning, learning societies and learning organisations? * How have government and business responded? * What methods and processes enhance the learning potential of adults? * How can we motivate adults to learn? * What are the effects of advancing age on our ability to learn? * Is competency training an effective tool for encouraging learning? This new edition examines how and why we must facilitate the learning potential of all members of society. The Adult Learner at Work, 2nd edition provides an attractive vision of the development of learning environments in the workplace and the community setting-integrating skill learning and personal development using well founded principles of adult learning.