This paper wants to strengthen the identity of Andragogues – to make Andragogues strong and proud. It starts from the observation, that the term “adult educator” labels many different functions, roles, competencies, and educational backgrounds – which leads to an unclear identity. To shape the identity it is suggested to differentiate the various groups of individuals working in this field; the focus is on the graduates of university programs: Andragogues.Workplaces are described as places where graduates of university programs can be found working successfully. Four competencies are identified needed at these workplaces: teaching, organizing, consulting, and evaluation. These competences have to be included in the education of Andragogues. The question is asked: is there a “unifying concept” for people working in that field, a shared identity? The answer will be: what is unifying is the idea, the need, and the function to organize change: for individuals, for organizations, for society. Andragogues – no matter were they work – are change specialists. To strengthen the self-understanding, the identity of the professionals, graduated from university programs and educated for this complex task (and to discriminate them from “everybody” doing some sort of adult education), this group should use the name/label “Andragogue”. And to feel strong and proud: In a changing world change specialists are bitterly needed.

Prof. (em.) Dr. Jost Reischmann was Chair of Andragogy at Bamberg University in Germany from 1993 to 2008 (jost.reischmann@uni-bamberg.de). He was President and Vice-president of the International Society for Comparative Adult Education (ISCAE – www.ISCAE.org). In 1999 he was nominated and inducted in the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame, 2006–2012 member of its Board of Directors. In 1998 he received the ‘Presidents Award for Innovative Leadership’ and in 2006 the ‘Outstanding Service Award’ from the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education.