Adult Education and Resilience 2026
Tomas Rosengren: How folk high schools strengthen societal resilience
Non-formal adult education has played a crucial role in strengthening societal resilience in the Nordic countries – and is now more essential than ever, says Tomas Rosengren of the Swedish Teachers’ Union. In his view, teachers’ most important role is to help learners see the broader context of any subject.
Dearbháil Lawless: “Non-formal adult education puts learners at the heart of resilience”
The learner’s voice must be the central guide in non-formal adult education as it aims to bolster societal resilience, says Dearbháil Lawless. She leads Ireland’s National Adult Learning Organisation (AONTAS), which embeds adult learners’ voices into every stage of its activities.
EDITORIAL Paul Stanistreet: “We need resilient communities, not just resilient workers”
Current adult education policies focus on individual labour market resilience, often overlooking wider societal responsibilities. In this editorial, ELM Editorial Board member Paul Stanistreet calls for a shift towards collective resilience that supports democratic problem-solving.
