Convergence or divergence of ideas on andragogy in different countries

Abstract

Historical and comparative research shows that the roots of andragogy are deeper than certain contemporary authors mean. The learning and education of adults have always been integral parts of human activity and of human aspirations to learn. Theoretical discourses on pedagogy vs andragogy were common during the second half of the twentieth century in the former Yugoslavia. Two schools of thought were formed: pedagogical and andragogical. The first considered pedagogy as an ‘integral’ science of upbringing; the second one considered andragogy to be a relatively independent science dealing with distinctions of learning and education of adults. There were interesting discussions on andragogy in other countries. The greatest numbers of supporters of the concept of andragogy as a social scientific discipline (or under another name) come from Central and Eastern Europe and from the USA.