Learning Link

Learning Link: May 2, 2005

Building the Future of Adult Learning in Canada: A Reflective Dialogue

CCL’s first development conference, held in Halifax from April 24-26, took the form of a lively and reflective dialogue among 130 participants from universities, governments, public, non-profit, and private sector organizations engaged in the full range of activities connected to adult learning.

The conversations focused on themes of collaboration and research, exploring how CCL can: 1) work ‘differently’ across and among organizations and sectors to strengthen and improve all aspects of learning; and 2) structure a new Knowledge Centre to enable the development of a collaborative network that places at its centre the interests of the adult learner.

A number of insights and observations emerged from the conversations, among them:

  • The scope of adult learning is both wide and deep; it crosses disciplines and sectors from formal education and training to informal and experiential learning.
  • Adult learning is rich in history and deep in research. The already large and growing body of research needs to be made accessible to practitioners and used as a base for benchmarking, helping to identify gaps and develop policy.
  • Collaboration does not come ‘ready made’. It requires thoughtful and continuous work to build and maintain relationships, clarify values and pursue a purpose that is both shared and substantial. Collaboration requires full participation by all partners, recognition of stakeholder interests and equality among participants.
  • There is a distinctive culture in adult learning, as demonstrated in the fields of literacy, prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR), and community-based learning. Innovative work in this domain must be sensitive to the culture, including issues of language.
  • Building a collaboratively-based Knowledge Centre in the field of adult learning with multiple stakeholders is, by its nature, a complex and “messy” business. Initiatives for moving forward will require a tolerance for ambiguity and risk by both CCL and its stakeholders. It will be necessary to build and maintain trust and learn from setbacks as well as successes.

Conference participants endorsed knowledge mobilization as a priority, to build on the strength of existing research and to provide a voice for adult learners across the country. Participants were enthusiastic about CCL’s rare and much-needed potential to build pan-Canadian leadership to help adult learners to identify new opportunities throughout their lives.

Paul Cappon, President and CEO of the Canadian Council on Learning, stated, “I was delighted by the high level of participation, and by the strong commitment to develop a Knowledge Centre that will serve the interests of adult learners across Canada.”

The conference concluded with an informal dialogue among organizations and individuals interested in developing a consortium to lead the Knowledge Centre. CCL will be launching a formal solicitation process for the Adult Learning Knowledge Centre in early May.

For more information about CCL’s Knowledge Centres, visit CCL’s website.

 

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