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ICAE ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING ADVOCACY

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ICAE ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING ADVOCACY

The second edition of the ICAE Academy of Lifelong Learning Advocacy was launched on July 27th. 2005, at Buskerud Folkehogskole, with the attendance of different participants from several countries of Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Most participants work on different fields linked to adult education, within civil society organizations.

Arild Mikkelsen, Principal of Buskerud Folkehogskole, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome to the new IALLA participants, followed by Sturla Bjerkaker, Secretary General from the Norwegian Association for Adult Learning (VOFO), Anders Werp, Mayor of the Ovre Eiker Kommune and Paul Belanger, ICAE President. The participants also had a space to express their expectations, or message at the opening of the course. During the second part of the opening ceremony, Anders Werp gave a lecture on "Building of a local democracy. Contribution of municipality and voluntary organizations", followed by Arild Mikkelsen with his lecture on "The concept for Folk High Schools".

We have transcribed below the speech of Sturla Bjerkaker from VOFO.

Sturla Bjerkaker, Secretary General of the Norwegian Association for Adult Learning.

Let me start with this short story about feelings….. As a young information officer in adult education, many years ago I applied and was approved to take part in a summer school in England about "How adults learn". It was one of my first trips abroad. Coming to Notthingham University campus, where the course was to take place, I realized I was the only foreigner present. All the others were English. I have to admit that I felt a bit lonely and outside the group the first days, but slowly I more and more got into the group and became able to communicate and thus able to learn.

I will never forget this experience. If you, for some reasons, have similar feelings, do not be anxious, it will turn out fine…..

You have chosen to come to my country in the north corner of the globe to study lifelong learning advocacy for three weeks. I think and I hope that you have made a good choice.

On behalf of the Norwegian Association for Adult Learning - the ICAE-member in this country - it is a very great pleasure to welcome you all here!!

It is a special pleasure, because the Norwegian association has been taking part in the organizing of this Academy and is a co-partner for this event. It is a special pleasure, because the Norwegian association has been taking part in the organizing of this Academy and is a copartner for this event. It is a special pleasure, because I personally have had a great interest in the work of ICAE the last years, believing that the global perspective on adult learning is crucial, important and necessary.

The Nordic and Norwegian tradition for liberal adult education - namely through study circles and folk high schools - is more than 150 years old, and it is still strong. It is based on the link between knowledge, democracy and people's participation - active citizenship. The former prime minister of Sweden Olov Palme once said that "Sweden is to a great extend a Study Circle Democracy". This is a good way of describing the link between liberal learning and people's democracy. On this philosophy of enlightment and engagement were the folk high schools and the NGO-based adult education associations in the Nordic countries built.

The Norwegian Association for Adult Learning is the national wide umbrella for hundreds of small and large NGOs more or less engaged in lifelong learning. Some of the NGOs have clear defined target groups, i.e. the adult learning association for handicapped and disabled, the one for farmers and people living in rural areas or the workers' education association. Some of them are focusing on special learning needs, such as skills to read and write functional dyslexia and so one. Some of them underpin training for workers and unemployed, while others offer study circles for problem solving in local communities, political issues and so on.

There is an adult learning association for almost any issue in this country, and the study circles or evening courses offered may still receive public grants or state funding to reduce the participants' fees to take part.

We have to do a lot of advocacy work to have this funding and to maintain this support and understanding and cooperation with the public authorities - from local level to the members of parliament.

To advocate for lifelong learning and the importance of learning and enlightment to maintain and grow democracy is the most important task for the Norwegian Association for Adult Learning.

What ICAE does at global level, web do at national? To think global and act local is still a slogan worth having in our minds. But the slogan to think local and act global has become more and more relevant. One of the answers to this new slogan is IALLA. Web are happy to host this second IALLA seminar here in Darbu, here in Ovre Eiker, here in Buskerud, here in Norway. Once more it seems possible to gather together lifelong learning advocates from all over the world.

Here you are - as the best proof possible of the slogan think local, act global, and as a proof of the fact that thoughts may very well be realized if the ideas are good enough.

I wish you all three enjoyable weeks filled of new knowledge blended with your own valuable experiences.

CONTENT ICAE ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING ADVOCACY

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ICAE ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING ADVOCACY