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The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These papers are from the CIAE 2020 Virtual International Pre-Conference. The global aberration, called COVID-19, defined 2020 beyond national borders. COVID-19 reshaped the format of the 69th annual AAACE conference by replacing the traditional bustling human interaction with virtual meetings and presentations. These "Proceedings" contain 12 papers from 17 authors. The preeminence of COVID-19 in the 2020 International Pre-Conference papers demonstrates CIAE's commitment to being globally responsive and relevant. The word COVID appearing 88 times and COVID-19 appearing 86 times with mentions in two paper titles are an acknowledgement of the common threads of humanity and of hope for a surpassing future. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

The value of upholding individuals' rights in society especially in this post-COVID-19 era can never be over-emphasized. The economic, political, cultural, and social rights of citizens set the parameters of what is expected by citizens from the government as we exist and socialise in society. It is also what gives the legal backing to citizens and what protects them from undue interferences and pressure from individuals, corporate, and government organizations. In Nigeria, serious social issues infringe on the social rights of citizens. Problems of insecurity, regular kidnapping, unemployment, and low standard of living exist. Many believe these long-lingering social issues, which are rooted in corruption, can be curbed via adult education. This will in turn bring about improved democratic practice by the government so citizens are safe and protected. This paper discusses the concept of adult education and how it can promote social rights in the practice of Nigerian democracy in the post-COVID-19 era. The paper examines related concepts on democracy and social rights and their value to national development. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

In this paper, we outline English language teaching practices from a private language school in Serbia. We use data from qualitative interviews with six English language instructors from one private language school in Serbia to understand how these individuals prepare for and teach adult learners. We discuss these based on the andragogical process design, which offers a step-by-step approach to teaching adults, and highlight key elements and challenging issues from the perspectives of six language instructors. Finally, based on our findings, we outline practical implications related to teaching English as an additional language to adult learners. As the focus of this paper is on practical implications, this paper will be useful to instructors who teach adult learners, especially those who teach English as an additional language or administrators in charge of organizations in which such teaching occurs. As we discuss issues related to both linguistics and adult learning, scholars and practitioners from both fields will also benefit from reading this paper. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

The outbreak of the Corona-virus created a global health crisis which has affected educational systems globally, resulting in near-total closures of schools with far reaching economic and social consequences. Countries adopted different strategies to ensure learning was sustained using digital technologies. However, the majority of children in Nigeria were not able to benefit from this intervention due to some barriers. Primary barriers included poor knowledge of technology, infrastructural deficiencies, epileptic power supply, and funding amongst others. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) is the Teachers Regulatory Agency and Centre for policy issue regarding teachers. TRCN, reached out to its critical stakeholders including the World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Foreign Cooperation Development Organisation (FCDO), and the British Council. The focus was how to respond to the disruption caused by COVID-19 to education, through collaboration to help adopt evidence-based strategies and measures. This paper focuses on partnership between international agencies and the TRCN in Nigeria through the "Technology Enabled Learning Futures" framework. It explores focus-creating innovations to reposition teachers for effective, efficient, and transformative teaching. The paper uses secondary data to discuss the various interventions from International Development partners. It further discusses the impact of all the interventions on teaching and learning in Nigeria and its implications for international partnerships in teacher education. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

Drawing on theories from transcultural theory, I examined Chinese immigrant mothers' transcultural perspectives on mothering and learning. Recent adult educational studies contain limited research on the effects of cultural influence on mothering and learning by immigrant mothers from their perspective. Based on 30 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada, this study revealed there are not only interactions between the fluid cultural values and the understanding of mothering and learning by immigrant mothers, but also race, gender, and class relations behind Chinese immigrant mothers' mothering and learning practice. This paper contributes to a better understanding of cultural influence on Chinese immigrant mothers' learning and mothering practice. The findings help foster adult educational programs for immigrant mothers in multicultural societies. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Aberration in teaching and learning caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is still a stark reality. Efforts at ameliorating havoc in Nigeria necessitated the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Accelerated Fund to support state-driven interventions to address gaps in delivering Education in Emergencies (EiE) and inequalities existing within the education sector. GPE is supported Nigeria with a COVID-19 response programme entitled 'Continuing learning through alternate home-based platforms' in 16 states across Nigeria to develop capacities of teachers and school leaders on effective use and application of technology in teaching and learning. The programme included a teacher capacity development component to enable teachers to utilize flexible digital and remote/home-based learning resources. The programme hopes to enhance teachers' and school leaders' capacity to deploy technology in classrooms and improve online and offline distance learning methods. Training needs assessment was conducted to ensure digital training was designed to fit the identified digital skills gap of teachers in Nigeria. This paper scrutinized secondary data to discuss various processes of the intervention. It further discussed outcomes of the programme on teachers who were target beneficiaries of the program and education in Nigeria. It then concluded with a focus on benefits of partnerships between donor agencies and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the training goal, desired outcomes, methodology, challenges, the way forward, and implications for school administrators on teaching and learning in Nigeria. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Classroom instruction in China and in the United States have sharp differences. Typically, constructivist learning theory shapes American classroom instruction whereas Confucian educational culture shapes Chinese classroom instruction. Furthermore, typically, Chinese classrooms adopt a direct instructional approach whereas American classrooms adopt an indirect instructional approach. Awareness of such differences in classroom instruction informs educators of the educational backgrounds of students coming from different educational environments and cultures, enabling educators to better serve different student populations. Additionally, it is worth noting that educational culture worldwide is converging as indicated by world culture theory. This paper presents different classroom instruction in China and the U.S., and inspires educators to learn from the differences, reflect on their own instruction, and eventually innovate and improve their instruction. [For the full proceedings, see ED628982.]

The quality of teachers is an important factor in the achievement of educational goals, and this is why Wokocha (2013) asserts that the quality of the teacher could be determined through intellectual competence, mastery of content, teaching experience, skills and dissemination of knowledge. Thus, one of the best ways to raise the quality of teachers is by building their capacity through Mandatory Continuous Professional Development Programmes, (MCPD). Social engagement through teacher education and training has been one of the areas of emphasis of the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). This paper uses secondary data analysis to discuss the activities of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. It examines how social dynamism and globalization demand emerging skills from education and educators. It argues that the new reality requires the need to incorporate new skills into teaching including social issues to encourage deeper connection to social engagement issues. It concludes that teacher education and training is one of the effective ways of ensuring social engagements. Using the experience of the TRCN, the paper shares some strategies and skills that can be employed to inculcate social engagement in teacher training and education. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

In this paper we will share successful teaching techniques for creating effective learning experiences for adult learners in an international context. We studied the experiences of two groups of Chinese undergraduate students from public health and nursing in short-term study abroad programs in the United States. We used the experiential learning theory described by Kolb (1984) to understand which teaching and learning strategies were considered meaningful by Chinese undergraduate students. We found that they preferred activities which involved opportunities for building relationships with American colleagues such as community engagement, shadowing, and learning English language. They considered lectures about public health topics informative but less meaningful as compared to more interactive and hands-on learning activities. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

This paper describes the work of teachers from United States and Belize, who took the opportunity that COVID's challenges presented to collaborate in building professional development for teachers in both locations. Leveraging both technology and relationships, educators representing a variety of skill sets, schools, and positions in Belize and in the United States, co-created seminars that were live, interactive and responsive to teacher needs in real time. We sought feedback during this professional development in real time as we have continued to follow up with participants regarding the strengths and barriers of this work. We believe the meeting of our minds and screens during these times of COVID is testimony to the power of collective struggle and triumph through our shared vision, our desire to continuously improve our teaching practice, and our commitment to collaborate as we build an increasingly knowledgeable and united teaching coalition that will continue to shape our shared future. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted teaching and learning in higher education institutions globally and Ghana is no exception. Educational institutions have had to adapt to new models of teaching as well as engagement of students through the use of technology with a purpose of enabling continuity in academic work. Using the connectivism learning model and a purposive sample of eighteen undergraduate students from six public and private higher education institutions, this paper explored their perspectives about institutional adaptation of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection procedures included in-person or phone semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study indicate that though the majority of higher education institutions did not have adequate structures to smoothly transition teaching and learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to adapt and make do with available technology that suited a majority of students for teaching and learning to continue. Participants revealed challenges encountered during online teaching and learning to include inadequate network bandwidth that was further impacted by one's location, data insufficiency, and inconsistent online scheduling by faculty members which affected student availability. It was also noted that there were variations in the ways higher education institutions implemented online learning to aid student academic engagement, teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, there is therefore a call for the promulgation of a policy to standardize the delivery of online learning in higher education institutions in Ghana. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

The focus of this article is to highlight adult education in Saudi Arabia. It also investigates the roles of early official and volunteering initiatives that established the adult education and literacy system in Saudi Arabia. In addition, a brief overview of the development of adult agencies such as Night Literacy Schools and Adult Education Centers, Summer Campaign Program, and Social Development Centers in Saudi Arabia is discussed. This article focuses on the system of adult education and illiteracy in Saudi Arabia and how it developed through the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries. It also discusses the most important official plans to develop adult education and literacy such as the 20-year Plan. A brief history of adult education and literacy introduces how different adult education agencies have been created in Saudi Arabia. Each agency's vision, mission, and goals are covered as well as comparisons between them. The paper also reviews the innovative plans and strategies being used to enhance the awareness of the importance of adult education as well as some of the outcome of these innovations. Finally, it presents a brief overview of the role of higher education in supporting adult education in Saudi Arabia, and it discusses the recent university programs that provide graduate academic degrees in adult education. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

This paper explores student satisfaction of tutor services provided at the University of Ghana Learning Centres specifically, Koforidua Learning Centre. A simple random sampling method was used to select current 150 undergraduate students pursuing varied degree programmes at the Koforidua Learning Centre. There was an observed significant relationship between the dimensions of service quality namely reliability, responsiveness, and empathy and student satisfaction in relation to tutors' service quality. Generally, the findings indicate that students for some specific programs were dissatisfied with tutor services at Koforidua Learning Centre. Overall, the findings indicate that the use of SERVQUAL outcomes may lead to improved tutor performance at the undergraduate level. Findings may also guide other Learning Centres of public higher education institutions in Ghana to put in place measures that will enhance the quality of services tutors provide. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

Research on digital divide is on the ascendancy; however, there have been relatively few studies assessing digital inclusion focusing on how technological savvy was acquired by digital immigrant mobile phone users to explore the myriad opportunities of their mobile phones. Using semi-structured interviews this paper assesses digital inclusion as it explores how market women in Accra acquire technological savvy to use their mobile phones. The study findings show the importance of informal learning in the acquisition of digital literacy among digital immigrants: as majority of these women were able to use their mobile phones for the first time based on the informal teachings they received from their children. However, they appear to be digitally excluded as they under-utilized the mobile phone they own. They use their mobile phones predominantly for calling due to their low educational levels. For a fully digitized economy to be realized in Ghana, these women need adult literacy and market-based programmes that focus on developing digital literacies to enable them fully to join the digital society. Hence, there should be a call for adult education practice by promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all digitally excluded to attain 21st century skills to become part of the digital economy. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

Migration is a significant life event that usually triggers cross-cultural preparedness and the need for learning, even transformative learning. This exploratory study answers two research questions: How do Nigerian immigrants describe their preparedness for cross-cultural transition in Italy? What are the indications of transformative learning processes and outcomes in the immigrants' narrations? Emerging results from six semi-structured interviews with six Nigerian immigrants in Italy are presented. Narratives and themes from the interviews showed evidence of preparation (nonlearning and learning) as well as nonpreparation for cross-cultural transition among the immigrants. Participants' preparedness was associated with their motivation to emigrate, cross-cultural experiences, and proficiency in the Italian language. Also, their cross-cultural experiences pointed to different aspects in processes and outcomes of transformative learning. Disorienting dilemmas of individual participants were identified. The study concluded a further inquiry could show how Nigerian immigrants' cross-cultural transition leads to various outcomes of transformative learning. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These "Proceedings" are from the Commission of International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2022 International Pre-Conference. This year's "Proceedings" contain 12 papers from 18 authors, representing CIAE's usual diversity of authors and topics. Researcher and research sites include Canada, China, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, and the United States. A major theme continuing from the 2021 conference is the impact of COVID-19 on learners in a variety of settings, including teacher training, adult basic education, and higher education. A second major theme concerns cross-cultural learning, including among migrants and in higher education. Some papers address adult learning experiences in myriad social contexts, such as learning for democracy, aging, military, and spiritual learning. A special feature at this year's Pre-Conference is a focus on CONFINTEA VII and the Marrakech Framework for Action. A panel and discussion session on these important endeavors are part of the Pre-Conference Agenda, with key documents provided in the 2022 Proceedings. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

Older adults' participation in the University for the Third Age (U3A) positively influences their physical and emotional well-being and thus increases their quality of life. However, the number of the elderly participating in the U3A has remained low in China, especially in rural areas. This study explored the factors influencing older adults' attendance in a U3A in Guangxi Province, one of the less-developed provinces in China. Results indicated that factors impact participation associated with gender, overall life quality, general health, daily life activities, self-esteem, and social relationships in the U3A. This study provides a new understanding of Chinese older adults' learning in U3A in rural provinces and may help countries with similar situations. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

In practice, adult basic education activities are educational activities that adults engage in systematically so they can gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values for self-sustenance to ensure self-improvement and national development. Achieving these requires an appropriate approach which is vital for the participation of learners to ensure transformational results. However, the plague of COVID-19 created a disorientating dilemma for facilitators around the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, with little or no alternatives to regular physical contact learning-delivery systems using digital learning approaches. This imposed paradigm shift has created the need for flexible, adaptable, and sustainable delivery of adult basic education in Nigeria, while we await full utilization of digital learning. An adaptable Transformative learning delivery model which uses a blend of both transformative learning and each-one-teach-one approaches is proposed to achieve the dual-aim of adult basic education. The proposed learning-delivery model to be implemented by adult educators in Nigeria as well as other developing countries will assist learners to become active citizens for self-improvement and national development. This model suggests that facilitators will utilize the full participation of learners through their conscious and concerted efforts towards learning. In addition, facilitating learning with this model will show continual effort to attain sustainability of adult basic education, even in the advent of national or global uncertainties like COVID-19. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Internationalization has become a substantial part of higher education worldwide, especially in the U.S. Moreover, Chinese students make up the largest portion of the U.S.'s international higher education students. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a disruption in higher education, especially posing considerable challenges to international students. Given the emphasis of international higher education in the U.S. and the prominence of Chinese international students in this country, as well as the sparsity of research outside large cities, this study sought to examine particular challenges posed to Chinese international students studying at universities in smaller cities in the U.S. Results indicate that this group of students experienced a myriad of hardships and challenges during the pandemic. Understanding these effects can inform international higher education programs perhaps worldwide, ultimately improving such programs to better manage crises, but also to improve normal practice. [For the full proceedings, see ED628982.]

Every country of the world including Nigeria needs to imbibe the idea of innovative technology in a bid to sustain cities and communities with a view to raising the standards of living of the citizens and attending to the many challenges facing cities and communities. These challenges make it extremely difficult or impossible to fix socio-economic development and inhibiting improved standard of living of the people and outlook of cities and communities. Adults need to be carried along in sustainable development through all the laudable programmes of adult education, interjecting them with technological innovations. Technology stimulates creativity which brings along with it innovation. Lack of adequate training in technology robs adults of creativity. The paper thus looks at how introducing technological innovations into adult education would stimulate creativity in people thereby making them innovative in all areas of life so as to achieve sustainability. The paper recommends that adult education should be more funded by Nigerian government, that technological education should be introduced into all programmes of adult education, remove every hindrance to technological education from every adult learner and education should be made accessible to all so that sustainability would be achieved not only in cities and communities but in individuals and getting communities ready for future generations. [For the full proceedings, see ED597456.]

This paper explores liberation movement theory from educational and historical standpoints. Liberation movement theory is defined as a theory in which the oppressed seek personal, political, and social development through freedom from domination. In this paper, liberation, non-formal education, and popular education are learning theories that are viewed from the lenses of Paulo Freire and Amílcar Cabral. The more specific focus is Latin American liberation movement theory with emphasis on Guatemala (Latin America) and Guinea-Bissau (Africa). Historically, both Guatemala and Guinea-Bissau have been heavily involved in the liberation movement using various strategies of non-formal learning and popular education. Paulo Freire and Amílcar Cabral operationalized these strategies in the 20th century. This paper further explores the Latin American liberation movement of the twentieth century as it relates to education for liberation in order to deeply engage in how and why marginalized groups learn what they value as an education, and what they constitute as an education that liberates. This paper concludes with a comparison of both Guatemala and Guinea-Bissau to analyze how these nation-states have contemporarily operationalized liberation movement theory, and to explore if the tenets of this theory have promoted contemporary education for democratic participation in Guatemala and Guinea-Bissau. [For the full proceedings, see ED597456.]

The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and the US overcoming the challenges through adult learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transformative learning theory is utilized as a theoretical framework. Transformative learning, as an important component of adult learning theory, emphasizes the expansion of consciousness through which an individual can critically reflect on their personal experiences and feelings (Mezirow, 2009). Based on this theoretical framework, we aim to understand how Chinese immigrant mothers as adult learners experience the pandemic and learn mothering during these uncertainties and at the same time, reorient their self-consciousness and self-directed learning skills in the new normal. Adopting qualitative research, we have conducted 50 semi-structured interviews among Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada and United States. This study reveals that Chinese immigrant mothers are increasingly marginalized as a result of the global pandemic and capitalism, which accelerate their motivations for enhancing their self-consciousness and self-directed learning. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

There are gaps between those that are able to benefit from the internet and those who are not. There have been powerful global movements, including a series of intergovernmental summits, conducted to close the digital divide. The movements formulated solutions in public policy, technology design, finance and management that would allow all connected citizens to benefit equitably as a global digital economy spreads into far corners of the world population. But the gap remains unabated in the Developing World. This work identified major attributes of the Developing World vis-a-vis the digitalization of the community; and examined the specific impacts of the digital divide on contemporary adult education and its future. Nigeria is used as a case study. The study made commendations for eliminating digital divide to propel advancement in adult education in the Developing World. The study is descriptive. Government policies and programmes on Internet and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) were examined. School programmes and practices on ICT were studied. 25 individual adults drawn across Nigeria were interviewed to determine their level of digital literacy, and challenges. They also made suggestions. The Third World are least connected with no indications for immediate integrated closure. Low literacy, poor economy, poor infrastructures and government ineptitudes, among others, constitute major reasons for the divide. Massive investment in ICT and infrastructures, and tremendously purposeful training of facilitators that will impart the knowledge and skills are desirable. Schools and colleges may have to double the attentions to ICT in their curriculums. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

Culture is a predominant force in people's lives that impacts learning and thus culture influences learning transfer. Because working across nations has become the norm and every year billions of dollars are spent on professional learning around the world, it is crucial for organizations to understand the role culture plays on the learning transfer process. Using a multidimensional model of learning transfer as a conceptual framework, this qualitative study used a case study approach to examine the impact of culture on learning transfer in Burkina Faso and Ghana, West Africa. Interviews were conducted with 20 principals who attended leadership professional learning in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Data collection also included observations. Findings indicated that several cultural factors influenced learning transfer in these two nations in the area of pretraining. Specifically, cultural differences pertained to the notion of time, the preference to avoid uncertainties, the importance of formalities and power dynamics. Based on these findings, the author offers recommendations. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

The Commission on International Adult Education (CIAE) of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) provides a forum for the discussion of international issues related to adult education in general, as well as adult education in various countries around the globe. These "Proceedings" are from the Commission of International Adult Education's (CIAE) 2021 International Pre-Conference. This year's "Proceedings" contain 17 papers from 37 authors, representing CIAE's usual diversity of authors and topics. Researcher and research sites include Belgium, Belize, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, Norway, Serbia, and the United States. Not surprisingly, a major theme explored is the impact of COVID-19 on learners in a variety of settings, including school teachers, communities, parents, and higher education. A second major theme concerns digital resources and addressing the digital divide. Some papers address practices and research methods that enhance adult learning and others explore professional development, workplace learning, and cultural aspects of learning. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]

Before 2019, neither SARS-CoV-2 nor its genetic sequences had ever been identified. Retrospective investigations identified human cases with onset of symptoms in December 2019. While some of the earliest known cases had a link to a wholesale food market in Wuhan, China, some did not. But eventually, it spread to all nations of the world, and shutdown economies, social lives, education, and other sectors. This research studied the effects of COVID-19 on adult education in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. It made recommendations for sustainable adult education in the circumstances of COVID-19 and similar pandemics in the community. It is descriptive and drew data and information from primary and secondary sources. Through a self-structured questionnaire titled "Coronavirus, New Normal and Impacts on Adult Learning in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria," the community provided insight into its impact generally and on education particularly. They also made suggestions as panacea for sustainable adult learning in the circumstances of COVID-19 and similar pandemics. Records of some international and local agencies and organizations were perused. There were no records of COVID-19 cases in the study area. But the halo-effect was a great threat that devastated adult educators and learners. The community believed in and adhered to science and complemented it with traditional formulations. The community requires massive infrastructures to strengthen course delivery and administration of adult learning at all levels and in the circumstances of COVID-19 and similar pandemics. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

Constraints of the pandemic and rolling lockdowns eliminated opportunities to gather in person. Yet, for the learning cities movement, this period of coronavirus curtail was also a time of increased networking and creative collaboration. Where once human energies expended in "process work" left little retrievable trace, now artifacts accumulate apace in electronic clouds. What might a little excavation through material collected since the onset of COVID-19 reveal about ways localities and learning city networks mobilized to address the pandemic? For those on the resourced side of the digital divide, openly available content grants access to a gallery of community responses, transnational strategies, and future forecasting. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

In the age of the industrial revolution 4.0 the question arises as to how far digitization, which is taking place in all areas of life and work, can help meet the challenges of caring for patients or relieve the burden on nursing staff. In the health sector, including professional care, digitization is taking place at a rapid pace. In hospitals, digitization means demand-oriented support by means of information technology or artificial intelligence. Nursing staff in Germany, but also in other countries, are required in occupational everyday life to repeatedly engage in the implementation of new digital technologies and to use these appropriately. So, what is needed is digital competence which leads to responsible and independent handling of digital technologies. Due to the rapid digital progress, this digital competence must enable every working person to react to technical innovations in everyday working life. This requirement of a formal education in view of these digital competences leads to the question, to what extent the curriculums in the training and continuing education of nursing staff are already geared toward digital literacy training. The following article describes the results of a document analysis. The documents are a variety of legal and curricular regulations from the area of training and continuing education in the care sector. [For the full proceedings, see ED625421.]

For several decades, lifelong learning has been discussed both in terms of its ability to provide both individual and national economic benefits. However, while the importance of lifelong learning, particularly in lieu of occupational changes, has been emphasized, the creation or adaptation of funding methods for lifelong learning specifically in the latter half of life has stalled. However, model funding programs that support learning in midlife and beyond do exist internationally, comprising resources like loans, scholarships, and workplace funding. One funding model that came to prominence over the last two decades is the Individual Learning Account (ILA), which has been implemented in multiple countries, albeit with limited success. Although ILAs have ultimately not been well-integrated into extant educational funding systems for lifelong learning, such as self- or employer-funded learning or student loans, the ILA model and its associated challenges suggest key lessons for informing more effective lifelong learning funding, particularly into older adulthood. This paper will discuss gaps in the following four countries' attempts to implement ILAs and integrate common adult education funding methods: Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. [For the full proceedings, see ED597456.]

The technology utilization gap experienced almost one decade ago in many African countries had by June 2017 become a thing of the past when different African governments began to repudiate investment in fixed-line infrastructure in favor of the mobile infrastructure. Many networks providers have since migrated from 3G to LTE-based services. Telecommunication technology has been changing the way Africans do business in commerce, agriculture, health management and, largely, education. Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa have been actively engaged in enforcing Internet penetration such that by June 2017, there were 923, 528 (39.4%) Internet users reported for Botswana, 91, 598, 757 (47.7%) users for Nigeria, and 29, 935, 634 (54.0%) users for South Africa (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2017). Whilst it might be correct to say that the improvement in Internet penetration in the three countries could imply major prospects for its integration to adult and distance learning, there are challenges related to energy supplies, availability of hardware, expertise, cybersecurity and many others that can impede success in effectively digitalising program offers. This paper briefly examines the major prospects of integrating technology to adult and distance learning, possible challenges, and how best these might be mitigated so as to enhance the prompt entry of all three countries into the era of technology enriched provision of adult learning programs for personal and national development. [For the full proceedings, see ED597456.]

This work-in progress research design focuses on the development process of a "Training Perspectives Questionnaire" to investigate how trainers and consultants conceive training and to promote awareness about themselves as trainers. The study was developed within the project "Soft Skills: Aware, Competent and Competitive", led by an Italian training centre in cooperation with the University of Padova. Twenty-four professionals were involved in a 24-hour training program that proposed methods and techniques inspired by experiential learning and outdoor training to promote their professional development. This research connects the literature on and practice of professional development in the field of training and consultancy with Transformative Learning theory. A mixed method approach including a sequential exploratory strategy (QUAL-quant) was used to develop the instrument. The themes from the interviews have been integrated with dimensions identified through the literature review process and are presented here. (Cranton & King, 2003; This paper presents a work-in-progress research design focused on a professional development program for to technical trainers and consultants to improve their generic skills and enhance awareness of their consulting styles and approaches. This research connects two main theoretical foci: first, "Organizational Development" to identify research and tools developed to investigate and recognize consulting and training styles (Bierema, 2014; Block, 2011; Cockman, et al., 1996; Lippitt & Lippitt, 1986; Schein, 1987); and, second, Transformative Learning theory and research developed under this frame in the field of professional development King, 2004). [For the full proceedings, see ED597456.]

The study was carried out to access the activities of Idia renaissance skill acquisition programme in enhancing livelihood among women in Benin City. The need for the study arose as a result of the rising cases of unemployment, poverty, human trafficking, experienced in Benin City. The study was guided by four research questions and three null hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study consisted of 150 women, 135 of them were adult learners who were registered in the programme, while 15 of them have graduated and established their businesses. The researcher used the entire population for the study because they were readily accessible and manageable, no sampling was done. The data for this study was obtained using a questionnaire. The findings revealed that IRSAP was effective in providing skills in hair dressing, cosmetology and bead making. It was recommended among others that the Government should expand and extend IRSAP programme to all the 18 local governments in the State. Finally, The State Government should continue to assist the trainees with micro credit loan after learning a skill at the Centre. This will encourage many vulnerable people in our society to enrol in the programme. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

Depressive symptomatology, loneliness and hopelessness are dominant issues among elderly Africans. Yet, it is commonly assumed, and, perhaps, agreed that the elderly African should physically and socially remain active and continue to be the custodian of the people's traditional norms and values reflective of the traditional social transfers for which African culture is known. Exploring ethnographic data from the extant literature, this study attempts to understand the possible relationship between social engagement (based mainly on social activity) and the functional capacity of the Kgotla. Kgotla is a traditional court made up of community council chief and elders who meet at the public square to reach a consensus on public issues. It originates from Botswana. The data reveal that the informal adult learning functional activities that is dominant in the Kgotla, considerably help in social engagement among the elderly Tswana-speaking Africans. It was found that social activity is significantly enhanced by the elderly Africans' participation in kgotla meetings; and, that the degree of satisfaction with the mitigating role of this medium may be differentiated somewhat because elderly males seem to dominate discussions and activities taking place at the Kgotla. However, it was also true that the functionality of the Kgotla tend to lower the degree of loneliness and hopelessness for all the participants. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the African Kgtotla should be further enhanced as acceptable informal adult learning cultural institution for cognitively stimulating and socially integrating social engagement activities that could promote the psycho-social well-being of elderly Africans. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

Educated-neighborhood programs are lifelong-learning projects created by the Saudi government to achieve a positive effect on the economic, social, and cultural factors. These programs provide various training skills that should support Saudi Vision 2030 and help adults to deal with their lives. Therefore, this study aimed to discover how much Saudi women were empowered through the vocational skills being taught at educated-neighborhood programs during the time of COVID-19. The research also determined if there was a statistically significant difference, by marital status and the number of courses, for the Saudi women's responses about their empowerment through vocational skills at the educated-neighborhood programs during the time of COVID-19. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; a self-developed questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The study's sample was female, adult, Saudi learners who were enrolled in Makkah. Saudi Arabia's educated-neighborhood programs to gain vocational skills. The results indicated that Saudi women were empowered with the vocational skills obtained at educated-neighborhood programs. Moreover, the findings showed that there were no statistically significant differences among the women's responses due to marital status. However, there were statistically significant differences among the women's responses based on the number of courses taken. The benefit of the direction was for women who took 5 or more courses. One recommendation from this study was that vocational skills should design in a way that can encourage and empower women for the labor market for the 21st century. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

With today's world of accelerated progress and change, the skills to solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and manage lives in a healthy and productive manner are essential for people to flourish in the 21st century. The study's purpose is to explore the role of educated-neighborhood programs for achieving the necessary life skills that adult learners need to help them during the present pandemic. The research also investigates if there is a difference, by gender and number of courses, regarding the educated neighborhood programs' role when acquiring the necessary life skills that could enable adult learners to confront the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical framework depends on John Dewey's perspective. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized. A total sample of 601 adult learners participated in this study. The results illustrated that the adult learners who enrolled in the educated neighborhood programs perceived the benefit of the life skills by practicing these skills during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, the results revealed differences for both life skills based on the number of courses that learners had taken during the present pandemic. The benefit of the direction was for people who took 5 or more courses. Understanding adult learners' needs is essential to provide the necessary life skills that fit with today's world of accelerated change. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

The demand for adult training opportunities is substantial as labor markets often require adult workers to obtain advanced skills. Opportunities to obtain advanced skills are often pursued by high-income and high-skilled workers whereas low-skilled or low-income adult workers are less likely to participate. For this study, we used data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) for the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden to compare participation rates in non-formal education (NFE) by high and low-skilled adults. Additionally, to gain insights of adult education and training policies that promote NFE, international key informant interviews (n = 33) and document reviews were conducted. Major findings include (a) as compared to high-skilled adults, low-skilled adults are less likely to participate in NFE; (b) as compared to the U.S., low-skilled workers in Norway and the Netherlands are more likely to participate in NFE; and (c) non-formal education is often more acceptable to low-skilled adults due to previous negative experiences with formal education. Countries were selected based on qualitative findings that will inform best practices. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]

In northern Botswana, conflict between subsistence farmers and elephants can result in destroyed agricultural crops and death for both species. In June of 2016, students and faculty mentors from four universities traveled to the Okavango Delta region of Botswana to participate in a community education project designed to develop locally relevant solutions to mitigate human-elephant conflict. Local farmers and community members partnered with university students to design solutions and build prototypes of those solutions. In this paper, we present findings pertaining to the university students' experiences, perceptions, and learning during and as a result of the workshop, including ways in which expectations and the actual experience were aligned and the experience of partnering university students with members of the local community. Findings indicate that future, similar projects should work to ensure an appropriate balance of instruction attention between the local and student participants. Successes include open dialogue and collaboration among all workshop attendees, application of university coursework to address issues of problem solving, design, working with diverse groups, and co-creation of prototypes of simple machines, tools, and devices ready for use and testing by local farmers. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

The following paper is based on my master's degree thesis written as a graduate student at the University of Glasgow from 2014-2015 titled, "Preserving the Social Cohesiveness and Lifelong Educational Mission of Public Libraries in Times of Austerity: Assessing the Potential of the Scottish National Library Strategy through the Capabilities Approach." The purpose of my research is to understand how austerity policies have weakened and compromised the public library service in Scotland. In June 2015, the first Scottish national library strategy for public libraries was issued. Entitled, Ambition & Opportunity: A Strategy for Public Libraries in Scotland 2015-2020, was released as a policy response to ongoing austerity cuts in public services from the UK government. My research is a literature-based analysis of the new strategy using Martha Nussbaum's interpretation of the Capabilities Approach as a theoretical framework in which to examine and evaluate the policy's strategic aims and recommendations. In carrying out my research, I identified those central capabilities which I thought best corresponded to each of the strategic aims outlined in the Scottish national library strategy. Also, I used various examples of public library programs and initiatives (in Scotland and elsewhere) to help illustrate the links between the strategic aims and central capabilities. Throughout my analysis, I define public libraries as a vital community and social service that provides lifelong learning opportunities, social and community cohesion, adult and family literacy, and other innumerable benefits to the communities they serve. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

This 2016 updated capsule on a History and Philosophy of Andragogy includes 196 concepts and 268 names from a quasi-English translation of Dusan Savicevic's 2000 work on roots in the world-wide development of Andragogy from ancient times. Ten new items were discovered and added to the list. Some of these documents, however, present aspects of the events and ideas which recount the years and contexts prior to the time in which they appeared in published form. To date, nearly 600 documents have been discovered, but space limitations in this paper allowed the inclusion of only 150--a fraction of the total number. Each of 16 eras is articulated with selected works and the recent discoveries are found mainly in the most recent era. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

This paper derives from a case study of a 10-day cross-cultural field study experience held in Italy in which graduate students from master and doctoral levels in adult education participated. During group reflections, several students who participated in the course expressed the value of learning through personal connections made with students as well as the instructor. This relationship aspect of the short-term cross-cultural learning experience has only been briefly discussed in the literature. The research was framed by situated learning, and communities of practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991), with an emphasis on the relationships built in learning practice abroad. Student blogs were analyzed to provide evidence of the benefits of interpersonal relationships to deepen learning in adult study abroad. This research offers insights into the nature of relational learning during field study experiences, learning outcomes that resulted from these relationships, and ways to offer similar learning opportunities during international field study experiences in graduate education programs. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

The EU through the flagship initiative "Youth on the move" promoted by Europe 2020 Strategy (European Commission2010), invites State Members to improve educational outcomes, at every level of education using an integrated approach, as a way to connect formal and informal learning, theory and practice, because only within the experience, can a theory find its vital and verifiable meaning (Dewey, 1916). The aim is not only to offer students opportunities to develop key competences, but also to reduce drop out. The Italian practice of School-Work Alternation (SWA) in secondary schools is a response to the European recommendation and part of Work-Related programs, whose aim is to integrate formal and informal approaches in order to develop students' soft skills, professional competences, and to allow them to live vocational guidance. This contribution presents the key-role of teachers as being responsible for the realization of SWA programs. The paper is part of a wider research effort and discusses the results of 14 interviews aimed at 7 teacher-tutors and 7 teacher-coordinators, in 7 different secondary school, (VET and general education), located in five Northern Italian regions. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

This paper outlines the important role that Henry Carmichael played in the foundation of adult education in Australia. He was the driving force in the foundation and early success of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. He also played a very significant role in the establishment of public schooling. His wide interest in educational thought is also canvassed. Finally, his considerable achievements as a government surveyor and as a pioneer of the wine industry are considered. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

Historically, older and lower-skilled adults in the U.S. have participated in Adult Education and Training (AET) at lower rates than other groups, possibly because of perceived lack of return on investment due to the time required to recover training costs. Global, knowledge based economies have increased the importance of lifelong learning for all age groups. This paper reports results of a study that used data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) to examine the relationship in the U.S. between participation in AET programs and employment, labor force participation, and income, for adults aged 45 to 65. In addition, comparisons were made for outcomes of AET participation in the U.S. with those in Germany, Japan, Sweden, and the U.K. Consistent with U.S. outcomes, comparison countries had lower AET participation rates by the unemployed compared to the employed and there were wide variations in AET participation between the lowest income quintile and the highest income quintile. For all countries, there was a significant relationship between AET participation and income. There was also a significant relationship between AET participation and labor force participation. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

This paper focuses on job transitions and professional development of immigrants in the United States. Using narrative as a method and exploring Bulgarian immigrants' personal experience stories, this report shares some of the findings from the author's dissertation. Upon coming to the United States, the Bulgarian immigrants experienced a different language and culture in their host country. In addition, the initial lack of recognition of their credentials forced many of them to take low-skilled jobs. However, they successfully adapted over time by improving their host language skills, continuing their education, and learning and fulfilling requirements in the local labor market so they could eventually obtain the more high-skilled jobs they desired. These Bulgarian immigrants took different career paths toward achieving their goals and aspirations. However, being highly motivated, hard-working, and persistent individuals, they not only persevered and survived, but they also said they felt successful doing their jobs in their new environment. [For the full proceedings, see ED581791.]

This paper outlines the important role that School of Arts and Mechanics' Institutes played in the story of Australian adult education and highlights their significance in acknowledging those members of their local communities who had served in World War I, in honoring who had fallen, and in stressing the great cost of war to the community. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]

This study of eleven young North Korean Defectors (NKDs) examines how they engage in daily learning focusing on the process of identity reconstruction through their attempt to engage in career development activities. For the purposes of this paper one case was selected to illustrate how a reconstructed identity is learned. The main research questions for the study were: a) how do young NKDs reconstruct their identity in career development activities? and b) how do young NKDs learn through the identity reconstructing process? This research was based on a Cultural-Historical Activity Theory and data were analyzed by adopting a theory-driven approach. For data analysis, open, focused, and axial coding was conducted. Conclusions are preliminary, as the analysis is ongoing. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]

This paper describes a component of a larger cross-national comparative study on faculty development for teaching international students. Here we describe the study and report preliminary findings that offer analyses of the informal and formal means by which Italian and US university instructors enhance the knowledge and skills they find necessary to teach international students successfully in this era of educational globalization. We also offer insights and challenges of conducting cross-national adult educational research and explain why such studies across international adult and higher education contexts are essential in understanding how the world of academe is learning to adapt to globalization and international student mobility. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]

The period between 1980 and 1999 was one of interruption of education for Albanian students in Kosovo. Serbian students were allowed to attend school, which was now taught in the Serbian language that excluded Albanians. A parallel system of education evolved in which secret house-schools were established in order to educate Albanian speakers in their own language. This study recounts the time through the eyes of students, teachers, and others involved in education during this period. The paper describes measures undertaken to restore education of Albanians in Kosovo, implications for the future, and a caution to keep in mind. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]

Optimally all individuals should contribute fully to the collective spirit and human capital within the workplace, supporting and enabling the development of a mature workforce. Human resource policies endeavour to address diversity and inclusion in the workplace through a variety of methodologies including training and professional development programs. However the shift from achieving organisational diversity to organisational inclusion is not automatic. Organisational maturity demands careful diversity planning to embed inclusive practice. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), is on track in providing opportunities for a diverse range of employees. In 2015 OEH exceeded the Council of Australian Government (COAG) target for Aboriginal Employment. OEH is role modelling best practice for Aboriginal recruitment within the Public Sector. Once employed however, Aboriginal staff are not progressing to higher salary bands. This paper attempts to prompt thinking around Aboriginal Progression in OEH and look at ways to achieve the NSW Public Sector Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2014-2017 which sets a target of 1.8% salary band increase across all classifications for Aboriginal people by 2021. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]

Professional biographies of US-American nursing staff emphasize that these staff have consciously decided to conduct research for a Ph.D. in Adult Education instead of Nursing Sciences. The evaluation of the interview transcripts revealed two main categories: "Doctoral degree as an expression of a 'lived' lifelong learning" and "Doctoral degree as a scientific adaptation of skills" (Seltrecht 2014). However, these insights into the data material also revealed significant research desiderata: Can country-specific differences be made out concerning the understanding of what lifelong learning is thought to be? How can the relationship between lifelong learning and occupational education be described and what share do the specific requirements of nursing have in this context? A more in-depth comparison of countries is necessary for the professionalization of both nursing and education sciences in Germany. Such a comparison may reveal "institutional conditions" that accommodate a way of understanding "lived" lifelong learning that would be beneficial to the individual professionalization of each professional nurse--and could promote the collective professionalization of nursing beyond the individual case. The "institutional conditions" will be the focus of this year's paper. The example of a master's degree program "Teaching Qualification for Vocational Education in the Field of Health Care and Nursing" at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (Germany) is used as a starting point for discussion. This degree program prepares nurses, therapists and other nursing staff for teaching positions. These future teaching staff will deliver training and vocational education programs in a variety of health care and nursing occupations such as physiotherapists, elderly care nurses, medical care assistants, dental care assistants, and many others. The crucial point is: students of this program have never practiced these occupations. [For full proceedings, see ED570489.]