What is Action Learning?

The first reference to what has since become known as action learning was by Revans in October 1945; it was in a report upon the future of the British coalmining industry issued by the Mining Association of Great Britain. He recommended setting up a staff college for the industry, at which the field managers would be encouraged to learn with and from each other using the group review to find solutions to their immediate problems — about which something needed to be done whether the staff college had been set up or not. The report specifically said that the college ought not to have any permanent corps of experts and lecturers, although there was no objection to them being invited in for particular missions, after it was clear what those missions were supposed to be seeking.