Trends, problems and potentials in the Danish system of adult education: a theoretical view

Abstract

This article presents eight theses concerning central phenomena in contemporary Danish adult education and popular enlightenment. The theses, derived from general theories within sociology, psychology and education, are discussed in relation to the foundations and goals of the very heterogeneous field of Danish adult education. From an international perspective, Denmark's traditions of adult education and popular enlightenment, based on Grundtvig and the folk high schools, are of special interest owing to the high participation rates and because of the emergence of various consumer‐society‐related quality problems. This article summarizes some theoretical aspects of the author's doctoral dissertation (Habilitationsschrift).

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Bo Jacobsen

Bo Jacobsen, Dr. Phil, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen. His research interests include adult education, higher education and existential psychology. He has written a number of publications, his latest books being an extensive analysis of adult education and public enlightenment in Denmark, and an account on how to base adult education on people's ‘life experiences’. He is preparing a publication in English on Adult Education from an existential point of view. He has been a Visiting Scholar to the University of Cambridge as well as to the University of London, Institute of Education. He has contributed two articles to the ‘Bedford Way Papers’ of the London Institute.