International Society for Comparative Adult Education

"Comparative Adult Education 2017"

The 6th Conference of ISCAE took place in Würzburg/Germany,
February 15 - 18, 2017


Foto: Universität Würzburg

ISCAE invited to its 6th conference in Würzburg, Germany, Feb. 15, 2017 to Feb. 18, 2017. It was held in conjunction with the Winter School on "Comparative Studies in Adult and Lifelong Learning" (COMPALL) .

Comparison means to explicitly identify and analyze similarities and differences in two or more countries/contexts and includes the attempt to understand why the differences and similarities occur and what they tell us about adult education in these countries and/or in "own and other" contexts. The aim of this conference is to provide a forum to collect, share, and discuss practices, concepts, evaluation, and research studies. By this we want
- to document and develop the actual knowledge about comparative research in adult education.
- to improve theory and practice in the education of adults.
- to support a network of colleagues working in and for international and comparative adult education.

Papers and Posters:

Our practice throughout the history of ISCAE conferences is to invite and strongly encourage contributions from a wide spectrum of international comparative topics that deal with, but are not limited to, the following comparative categories:
  • comparing one or more issues of adult education/andragogy in two or more contexts (=comparative study sui generis).
  • dealing with questions about the theory, principles, methods, and other topics related to comparison in the international context of adult education (=critical reflection of comparative methods/principles).
  • reflecting and sharing experiences gained in International comparative research in which they faced problems, promises, challenges and pitfalls typical for comparative studies (=lessons learned).
  • reporting developments, new publications, state-of-the-art of comparative research in a given country or region or language (=reviewing).
  • A specific to this conference was to encourage, in addition to the above mentioned general topics, to reflect on one of the following international comparative issues:
  • Units and Subjects of Comparison: Reflecting on issues, units, categories and research objectives (e.g. policies, learning, institutions, structures) and comparative contexts (e.g. countries, organizations, cases, sectors). What are the topics research is being carried out?
  • Interpretation of Comparative Data: Reflecting on interpretation models for all kinds of comparative data. Within the increase of international datasets (e.g. PIAAC, AES, CVTS) occurs the question how to interpret these data. Currently, the comparison of welfare states is a highly used and discussed model. Which models are used and where are the challenges and the problems when using them?
  • Transnational Developments and Comparative Research in Adult Education: Reflecting on transnational developments and their impact on comparative research in adult and continuing education. How do transnational developments affect and have impact on comparative research in adult and continuing education?
  • For more information about program, accepted papers, and practicalities point with your mouse left to yellow "More Info".