Conditions of possibility – and hope? A research circle building community, democracy and dialogue

UWTSD is a member of UALL (The Universities Association for Lifelong Learning). From 26–28 June, Dr Iain Jones, Senior Lecturer, Education, Yr Athrofa: Institute of Education, attended this year’s annual conference jointly organised with SCUTREA (Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults).

The two organisations blend a commitment and interest in national policies, practice and research – across the diverse UK higher, further and adult education sectors – and different international forms of lifelong learning and adult education too.

At this year’s conference Iain, joined 100 other adult educators from the UK, Australia Canada, South Africa and the US who met to present and exchange research and practice.

Since joining UWTSD in October 2021, Iain has co-organised a research circle on ‘Building community, democracy and dialogue’ – with Dr Sharon Clancy, University of Nottingham, and a group of other adult educators working in higher and adult education. Adult Learning Wales and The Raymond Williams Foundation have contributed to earlier research circle events. Iain said ‘This year’s UALL-SCUTREA conference was ideal as a way of showcasing the research circle. But it was also a great way of learning about developments in different countries in the UK – and understanding lifelong learning practices internationally. Here’s hoping we can build on this – and make contacts for others at UWTSD too.’

The latest research circle workshop, at the UALL-SCUTREA conference, with participants from the UK and Canada, was designed to critically engage with the development of the research circle – as one example of lifelong and lifewide learning. It first provided a summary and context for this work. It began from an explicit position: a sense that dominant forms of lifelong learning are an impoverished response to local, national, and international crises. The workshop was then designed to open spaces for participants to review their own practices through a dialogue on democracy, citizenship and different forms of adult education. Each person was invited to reflect on their own experiences and explore how questions, asked at earlier research circle events, related to their own context:

Why does adult lifelong education need to be radically reshaped, especially in the Covid era, and how?

How does adult education link with and foster our democracy?

Dr Nicola Dickson, from the University of Glasgow, who is Secretary of SCUTREA joined the workshop. She commented : “What a great few days, feels like it’s all so full of hope again. Here’s to the next meet and so glad I might be able to contribute to the research circle work.”

The research circle first met in September 2020. From May 2021 to May 2023, events have taken inspiration from speakers and participants working in a wide range of voluntary and community organisations and in adult, further and higher education. Each event has been designed to create possibilities in the face of democracies in crisis – and has asked how these may relate to the experiences of other participants.

The next research circle event is planned for October. If you want to find out more about the research and join the mailing list – please contact Iain at i.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467071