The role of adult education and learning policy in fostering societal sustainability

Milana, Marcella; Rasmussen, Palle; Holford, John

Abstract

The idea of “sustainability” as a core value has slowly permeated policy and practice at governmental and institutional levels, in public and private policy. However, at times when social and economic crises have revealed the fragility of existing institutions and policies, it is important to consider how sustainability is – and could be – integrated into educational policies. In this theoretical contribution to a special issue on “Societal sustainability”, the authors draw on available literature and knowledge. They begin their paper by summarising the conditions under which the concept of “sustainability” entered political discourse in the early 1970s and outline how it has influenced educational research. They then introduce the longstanding debate about the relative role of tradition (in terms of traditional cultural and social order) and change (in terms of efforts to provide learning opportunities for everyone) in adult education. Finally, they argue for a rethinking of the ontology of sustainability: this, they suggest, can shed new light on its relationships with adult education and learning and social justice.

Citation

Milana, M., Rasmussen, P., & Holford, J. (2016). The role of adult education and learning policy in fostering societal sustainability. International Review of Education, 62(5), 523-540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-016-9588-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 11, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 22, 2016
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 27, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 27, 2018
• Journal: International Review of Education
• Print ISSN: 0020-8566
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-0638
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 62
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 523-540
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-016-9588-z
• Keywords: Adult education; Adult learning; Education policy; Sustainable development; Societal sustainability
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/974762
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11159-016-9588-z
• Additional Information: This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in International Review of Education. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11159-016-9588-z