2011 Future Forum on Adult Education

The 3^rd Future Forum on Adult Education took place at the Volkshochschule Urania in Vienna from 6^th to 8^th of July.

This years international meeting of adult educators, the "Future Forum on Adult Education", hosted by the Association of Adult Education Centres Austria (VÖV), dealt with the subject "Networks and Cooperations in Adult Education".

One of the keynote speakers, John Field, professor at the University of Stirling, reflected on the meaning of networks of professionals in adult education and on the complex meaning of networks of learners. His main argument is that networks are not necessarily stimulating adult learning, and can also prevent potential learners to participate in lifelong learning.

The second keynote speaker Franja Centrih presented the work of the Lifelong Learning Centre Savinjska in Slovenia. It is based on a network of partnership organisations that provide comprehensive and high-quality information and guidance in adult education. Harald Katzmair´s (FAS.research Vienna) keynote dealt with networking competences. His presentation shared insights into success factors and key drivers for specific types of networks.

These keynotes were complemented by a multitude of workshops and presentations by participants of the Future Forum. So the Future Forum succeeded in continuing the tradition of lively debate and international exchange which were the main attributes of the former "Salzburger Gespräche".

A dokumentation of the 3^rd Future Forum will be published in winter 2011.