Adult education and society today

This article recalls adult education's dominant paradigm within the social context of its historical emergence. It then outlines the two most significant changes that have occurred since the 1970s in most highly industrialized societies. Indeed, many challenges face adult education today. The counterproductive effects that result when adult education continues to be practiced along its traditional paradigm will be examined. Finally, the article discusses the potential of adult education to contribute significantly to society today, provided however it stresses the collective, collaborative, and social dimensions of adult learning. Without doubt, industrialized societies have changed profoundly since the early 1970s, leading to a series of unprecedented transformations today. Adult education originated before these changes. Is it, as a field of theory and practice, still capable of meeting the challenges posed by highly industrialized societies?