Call for evidence: adult learning and demographic change

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has agreed to establish and support a commission in order to identify best practice in the UK and internationally across each of the key arenas in which adult learning makes a significant contribution, to identify the values, principles and practical steps needed to give life to life-long and life-wide learning for all communities of the UK.

As part of this work, the Commission of Inquiry will be issuing a number of calls for evidence on particular themes. At present we are calling for evidence on adult learning and demographic change.

Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Commission. The closing date for evidence was 18 December 2007.

Over the next few decades, the nature of the British population will change, in terms of numbers, age mix and ethnic origin. These demographic changes are likely, in turn, to produce changes in the need and demand for adult learning. Some of these have been explored in the preliminary paper on Demography and Adult Learning - [PDF]

This paper identifies six likely demographic changes:

	the growing dependent elderly population;
	the expanding ‘third age’;
	changing mid-life patterns;
	new and deferred patterns of labour market entry;
	cultural and ethnic mix;
	geographical divisions.

We are interested in understanding how each might affect:

	the needs and demands for adult learning;
	who will participate in learning;
	the content of programmes;
	delivery modes;
	institutional and funding structures.

In each case we are interested in how adult learning, in its broadest sense, should respond to the change identified. How important is the issue? What kind of institutional structures are needed? What should be the priorities?

It will be helpful if responses are structured around the six themes, but some respondents will wish to raise issues that do not fit this framework, and may wish to challenge the underlying assumptions about demography. Such responses will also be welcome.

At this stage we take a broad view of what constitutes evidence. It might include research evidence; information about your organisation/learning provision; or personal or organisational experience or views about the issues connected with this theme etc. It would be helpful, however, if you could indicate what sort of evidence you are submitting.

Evidence should be submitted to lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk

This is a public call for evidence. Recipients of this notice are encouraged to draw it to the attention of others who may wish to submit evidence to the Inquiry.

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