Why Invest in Adult Learning?

Adult education is effective and investments in adult education by the state, the economic sector and also individuals pay off. The effects of adult education overlap to the greatest extent possible with the effects of initial education. The transfer of learning outcomes obtained from adult education is more direct and also quicker than in initial education or training that is part of the formal educational system. Adult learners are already employed or accept a new job soon after successfully completing a continuing education programme...  

Further reading

Financing of adult education

Cedefop (2017): Investing in skills pays off. The economic and social cost of low-skilled adults in the EU. Luxembourg: Publications Office. Cedefop research paper; No 60.

Bisovsky, Gerhard (2015): Education vouchers - a model for financing adult education? In: Die Österreichische Volkshochschule. Magazin für Erwachsenenbildung, 257/66, online version

Lassnigg, Lorenz (2015): Financing of adult education - is the focus on economic/vocational education replacing or supporting non-formal adult education? In: Die Österreichische Volkshochschule. Magazin für Erwachsenenbildung, 257/66, online version

Vater, Stefan/ Zwielehner, Peter (2016): Vocational education at adult education centres. In: Die Österreichische Volkshochschule. Magazin für Erwachsenenbildung, 258/67, online version

Country-specific analyses

Crawley, Jim (2015): Does the UK have an adult education problem? World Economic Forum, 1 April 2015

Indicators for adult education/learning, measuring learning outcomes and impact

NIACE (2011): Briefing paper
Social value of adult learning for community empowerment

WEA (2015): Impact Report
WEA Adult Education changing Lives