In my view, one of the most important bridging skills between adult learning and active citizenship is that of critical thinking. Individualised basic skills training is of course important to help learners to function adequately. However critical reflection and interaction (preferably across cultures) develops one's capacity to understand the nature of  a society and its government; and perhaps even challenge sometimes the legitimacy of its policies and practices. The ability to question is also essential to safeguard the health of a society and act as a bulwark against exploitative xenophobia and other forms of prejudice and discrimination.

Thank you for this thought-provoking podcast.

Brian (Northern Ireland)

Thanks for this interesting discussion on the links between adult education and active citizenship. You have made compelling arguments of how one enhances the other. Plenty to think about!

Dear Andrew, Simon, David and Gina,

This podcast is an interesting initiative and I thank you very much for your opionions  and knowledge shared.

For me Active Citizenship and adult learning are very much linked too. Not always in the form of basic skills in the workplace. Just before this blog / podcast was published, I came across this initiative on our twitter account; it's about an initiative from ProDemos that has a toolbox with which current City Council members can educate (other) local citizens to become politicians for their neighbourhood themselves in the upcoming elections of spring 2018. Because of course people are 'active' and 'commited', but they are affraid of 'politics' as it looks difficult, unpleasant and 'far away'. It isn't of course and this kind of learning should be stimulated.

How do you feel about that?

This is where you can find out about the ProDemos initiative(link is external) (in Dutch)

/sv/file/screenshot2017-05-19at142741pngscreen_shot_2017-05-19_at_14.27.41.png

Dear Andrew, Simon, David and Gina,

This podcast is an interesting initiative and I thank you very much for your opionions  and knowledge shared.

For me Active Citizenship and adult learning are very much linked too. Not always in the form of basic skills in the workplace. Just before this blog / podcast was published, I came across this initiative on our twitter account; it's about an initiative from ProDemos that has a toolbox with which current City Council members can educate (other) local citizens to become politicians for their neighbourhood themselves in the upcoming elections of spring 2018. Because of course people are 'active' and 'commited', but they are affraid of 'politics' as it looks difficult, unpleasant and 'far away'. It isn't of course and this kind of learning should be stimulated.

How do you feel about that?

This is where you can find out about the ProDemos initiative (in Dutch)

/sv/file/screenshot2017-05-19at142741pngscreen_shot_2017-05-19_at_14.27.41.png