English
The theme of the PSAE conference, which took place in Hamburg between 13 and 15 May 2026, was Adult Learning and Education: Widening the Scope for Action, referring to the expansion of the field of adult education and lifelong learning in a context where educational policy is simultaneously facing economic, political, and societal pressures.
The conference’s overarching premise focused on how adult education can expand its scope for action at a time when it is constrained by austerity measures, the rise of right-wing populism, geopolitical tensions, and the instrumentalization of education. At the core of the theme was the question of how adult education could function as a space for democratic renewal, participation, and societal transformation, rather than being viewed merely as a tool for the labour market or crisis management. The discussions were also framed by issues such as social justice, equality, migration, literacy, citizenship, and lifelong learning.
The AliVe team presented findings from Finland, titled “Age-friendly society calls for lifelong learning and critical geragogy – practice-critical findings from Finland from 55+ learners’ experiences” (Myller & Makkonen, 2026).
You can find the full paper to the presentation HERE (starting on page 150).