International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) January News
Dear ICAE Members, colleagues and friends!
As we begin the new year, we extend our warmest greetings to our members and partners around the world. May the year ahead bring renewed hope, solidarity, and continued commitment to lifelong learning for all.
Our ICAE Newsletter includes a variety of updates and events for you:
- Message from the outgoing Secretary General, Katarina Popovic
- Message from the President, Jose Roberto ‘Robbie’ Guevara
- Farrell William Hunter appointed Interim Secretary General of ICAE
- In Memoriam – Paul Bélanger and André Schläfli
- ICAE Strengthens Lifelong Learning Partnerships in Africa
- ICAE Members Meeting 2025 – With Gratitude and Hope
- Capacity-building workshop for GRALE 6 for the Asia and the Pacific region
- UIL - Workshop: Strengthening Educational Systems through Lifelong Learning
- Think Tank Meeting - Transforming Youth and Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in the Era of Digitalisation, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence.
- North American Regional News
- Project: Gender Equality in the Arab Region – Mainstreaming Gender in Teaching and Learning
- Project: Just4All – Adult Education for a Just Transition
- Project: ALE4TT - Adult Learning & Education for the Twin Transition
- Call for Doctoral School
We hope you will enjoy the read :)
Message from outgoing Secretary General, Katarina Popovic
Your ICAE Team, dear colleagues, dear friends,
When I look back, I don’t see a timeline. I see processes. I see how we learned to withstand shocks, how we reinvented ourselves more than once, and how we kept the core idea intact: that civil society in adult education must have a strong, independent, and critical voice. That voice was often uncomfortable, sometimes inconvenient, but always necessary.
There are three things that, for me, defined this long chapter.
The first is shared power. ICAE has never been an organisation built around one office or one person. It survived – and often thrived – only when responsibility circulated, when voices from different regions shaped our direction, and when decisions were made collectively, not ceremonially.
The second is solidarity beyond resources. There were years when budgets were thin, opportunities uncertain, and political pressures high. Yet, the strongest moments of ICAE came when the community mobilised not because there was a project, but because there was a principle or certain right to defend. This, more than any donor report, defines who we are.
The third is courage to stay political in a time of depoliticisation. We navigated global agendas, policy spaces, UN processes, and shifting geopolitical winds. And still, we kept insisting that adult learning is about agency, not just skills; about participation, not just employability; about people, not metrics. That insistence is, I believe, one of ICAE’s greatest contributions.
I also want to be honest about the weight of this role. Leading a global civil society network from a non-global centre was never simple. It demanded more energy, more explanations, more advocacy, more insistence that our perspective matters – even when it was overlooked. But precisely that position sharpened our authenticity. It kept us grounded. It forced us to understand the world not from the centre, but from its edges – and that is where ICAE also belongs.
These years taught me many things – Including that I was not always as fast as I should have been, or as patient as situations required. But I learned that civil society grows only where mistakes can be acknowledged without fear. And I am grateful to everyone who stood by me in those learning moments.
One thing I want to emphasise: ICAE was never a secretariat. ICAE was - and remains - a space.
A space where the power of education as human right is not only discussed but defended.
A space where people from movements, universities, communities, ministries, and organisations meet on equal footing.
A space where we can still say that learning is political - because it is.
Today is a moment of transition, yes, but not of departure. I am stepping away from the administrative and logistical responsibilities, but I am not stepping away from this community. I remain here - as an ally, as a colleague, and as someone who deeply believes that ICAE’s relevance has not diminished; on the contrary, the world now needs this voice more than ever.
If I could leave one image with you, it would be a simple one.
Our work is like a lighthouse. It does not calm the storm. It does not change the winds. But it can shift the direction of those navigating through the storm. And that is not a small thing. It is, in fact, the essence of impact.
Thank you for walking with me through all these years - not as followers, not as observers, but as companions, friends, co-fighters. Thank you for the debates, the disagreements, the solidarity, and the shared belief that adult education can still expand democratic space in this very complicated world.
Thank you for making this not a mandate, but a journey.
And thank you for continuing — because all of this only matters if it goes further.
***
Transitions - 2025 to 2026by Jose Roberto 'Robbie' Guevara , ICAEPresident
Transition preoccupied our thinking and actions in 2025. Transitions will continue to guide our work in 2026.
It is important to acknowledge that we recognise that for the ICAE, these transitions are not a single event, but have in reality manifested as multiple transitions.
For most of us, the main transition was the significant leadership change in the ICAE with the departure of our Secretary General, Katarina Popovic, after almost 12 years of outstanding service to adult learning and education. However, this leadership change has ushered a series of other transitions, such as: staff transition, with the appointment of Farrell Hunter, as the Interim Secretary General; transition in our official registration, moving from Serbia to South Africa, and the transition in the location of the Secretariat from Belgrade to Cape Town.
All these transitions are part of a purposeful but also opportunity driven actions by the Executive and the Secretariat. As our outgoing Secretary General Katarina Popovic had observed, for a 52 year old global network, this will only be the fourth major move of our Secretariat from Toronto, Canada, to Montevideo, Uruguay, to Manila, Philippines, to Belgrade in Serbia, and now in Cape Town, South Africa. It is also important to note that each move involved the opportunity to be hosted by one of our active ICAE members. Our current host is the German Adult Education Association (DVV-I). With this move, it is important to extend our deepest appreciation for the 12 years that we were hosted by the Adult Education Society (AES) in Serbia. Let me personally acknowledge the extensive work that both Katarina Popovic and Dušan Zdravković have contributed.
In addition, these multiple transitions have also coincided with emerging opportunities. Our registration and locating the Secretariat officially in South Africa could not have come at a more opportune moment, as before the end of 2025, we signed an MOU with the African Foundation for Lifelong Learning, a commitment that was identified in the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA). (See related article: https://icae.global/en/2025/12/icae-signed-mou-with-the-african-foundation-for-lifelong-learning-fa-atlv/.)
Therefore, as we welcome 2026, we are all excited about how these transitions and opportunities have aligned. We hope that you too will find similar opportunities for us to advance our work together, amidst challenging global times. One constant amidst these transitions is our commitment to the right to adult learning and education for all, within the framework for lifelong learning. This commitment has not wavered but has become stronger, to allow us to better understand, respond and shape a more peaceful, equitable, sustainable and gender-fair future. We look forward to learning alongside our communities, through strong partnerships with our members, amidst these multiple transitions.
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Farrell William Hunter appointed Interim Secretary General of ICAE
ICAE announces that Farrell William Hunter will serve as Interim Secretary General starting January 2026, bringing over 30 years of experience in adult education at national, regional, and global levels. Born and raised in Cape Town, Farrell has worked extensively with DVV International and across adult learning networks, combining grassroots practice with leadership in policy, governance, and international advocacy. His deep commitment to education as a force for social justice and transformative change will support ICAE’s work and continuity during this transition period.
Read more here: https://icae.global/en/2025/08/farrell-willim-hunter-is-the-new-interim-secretary-general-starting-january-2026/
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In Memoriam – Paul Bélanger and André Schläfli
This year, ICAE mourned the passing of two dear friends and long-standing champions of adult learning and education.
Paul Bélanger (1939–2025), ICAE President from 2000–2011, passed away peacefully on 31 January 2025. A visionary leader and tireless advocate for adult learning and civil society engagement in global policy frameworks, Paul helped shape ICAE’s voice in major international processes and inspired generations of adult educators.
André Schläfli, who passed away unexpectedly on 22 November 2025, served as ICAE’s European Vice-President (2011–2016) and was deeply engaged in advancing adult education in Europe and globally. Known for his passion, vision, and commitment, André’s contributions to professionalisation and partnership strengthened ICAE’s work and left a lasting legacy.
Read more about Paul Bélanger: https://icae.global/en/2025/02/paul-belanger-educator-and-advocate/
Read more about André Schläfli: https://icae.global/en/2025/12/in-memoriam-andre-schlafli
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ICAE Strengthens Lifelong Learning Partnerships in Africa
On 18 December 2025, ICAE and the Moroccan Center for Civic Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Foundation for Lifelong Learning (FA-ATLV), marking a new partnership to advance adult learning and education across Morocco and the African continent.
This collaboration responds directly to the Marrakesh Framework for Action, agreed at CONFINTEA VII, and focuses on capacity building, policy advocacy, and research and evaluation to help bridge the gap between policy and practice in adult learning and lifelong education.
Read more here:
https://icae.global/en/2025/12/icae-signed-mou-with-the-african-foundation-for-lifelong-learning-fa-atlv/
text by Elarbi Imad, ICAE Vice-President Arab Region
ICAE Members Meeting 2025 – With Gratitude and Hope
At the General Members Meeting on 18 November 2025, ICAE members from around the world came together to celebrate leadership transitions and look ahead to the future of adult education. The meeting paid heartfelt tribute to Katarina Popović for her 12 years of service as ICAE Secretary General, recognising her tireless advocacy for adult learning as a human right.
ICAE also welcomed Farrell William Hunter as Interim Secretary General and shared updates on ICAE’s official relocation to South Africa, in partnership with DVV International, where the new ICAE office will be hosted from 2026.
Participants heard regional reflections on key challenges and opportunities, including climate change, digital transformation, and strengthening civil society engagement in UNESCO processes, reinforcing ICAE’s commitment to solidarity and lifelong learning worldwide.
Read more here: https://icae.global/en/2025/11/icae-members-meeting-2025-with-gratitude-and-hope-icae-celebrates-leadership-and-looks-to-the-future
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ICAE co-facilitates the Capacity-building workshop for GRALE 6 for the Asia and the Pacific region
Shanghai, China, 15 – 16 October 2025
From 15–16 October 2025 in Shanghai, China, ICAE President Jose Roberto “Robbie” Guevara co-facilitated a regional capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening national data-collection efforts for the Sixth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 6) — due for publication in 2027.
GRALE 6 examines how adult learning and education (ALE) can address global challenges such as digital transformation, economic uncertainty, sustainability and health crises, and tracks progress on the Marrakech Framework for Action and the UNESCO Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (RALE).
The workshop brought together 13 national focal points, along with representatives from civil society and academia, to improve understanding of available data sources and strengthen national responses to the GRALE 6 questionnaire — a key tool for generating comparable, high-quality ALE data across countries. Participants also discussed strategies for engaging broader national stakeholders and explored the potential use of artificial intelligence to support data-gathering.
ICAE encourages members to make use of the self-paced GRALE 6 learning module on the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning’s Learning Hub to further support engagement. Civil society partners are invited to connect with their UNESCO National Commissions to identify focal points and take part in the national GRALE 6 processes.
Read more here: https://icae.global/en/2026/01/capacity-building-workshop-for-grale-6-for-the-asia-and-the-pacific-region/
Text by Robbie Guevara, ICAE President
Gender Equality in the Arab Region – Mainstreaming Gender in Teaching and Learning
ICAE in cooperation with the Arab House for Adult Learning and Development (AHAED), the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), and the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut organized a workshop on the topic of “Gender Equality in the Arab Region – Mainstreaming Gender in Teaching and Learning.” This workshop aimed to strengthen capacities for integrating gender equality into educational policies, practices, and learning environments across the Arab region. It brought together representatives from ministries, civil society organizations, and educational institutions to exchange experiences and develop practical approaches for mainstreaming gender in teaching and learning.
text by Maja Richer
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Strengthening Educational Systems through Lifelong Learning
ICAE represented civil society at the “Strengthening Educational Systems from a Lifelong Learning Perspective, 2025” workshop, organised by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in collaboration with the Open University of Shanghai. Policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, and Chad worked together to strengthen lifelong learning policies and strategies.
The workshop focused on flexible learning pathways, recognition of prior learning, learning cities, and peer-to-peer exchange, reaffirming lifelong learning as a societal project essential for inclusive and sustainable development.
Read more on the ICAEwebsite: https://icae.global/en/2026/01/strengthening-educational-systems-through-a-lifelong-learning-perspective-civil-society-reflections/text by Elarbi Imad, ICAE Vice-President Arab Region
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Strategising for Education Stakeholders on “Transforming Youth and Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in the Era of Digitalisation, Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence.”
From 24–26 November 2025 in Vientiane, Laos, ICAE co-hosted a regional Think Tank Meeting with ASPBAE and DVV International, bringing together around 50 education stakeholders and experts to reflect on how digitalisation, algorithms and artificial intelligence are transforming youth and adult learning and education (ALE). Discussions highlighted both the potential of digital technologies to expand access and personalise learning, and the risks they pose, including widening digital divides, threats to creativity and critical thinking, data privacy concerns and discrimination. The meeting concluded with a Call to Action for coordinated advocacy and capacity building to ensure the ethical, equitable and rights-based use of digital technologies and AI in ALE.Text by Robbie Guevara, ICAE President
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North American Regional News
Our United States members are continuing to work on the elements of the GRALE report under the leadership of COLLO (Coalition of Lifelong Learning Organizations) and other ICAE members. While not an official member of UNESCO the group has obtained focal point status with UNESCO and plans to submit a report and supportive documentation on what is happening in the United States in Adult Education. The team has developed specific sub groups to review available material and has made contacts with other key data sources in adult education for the US.
With continuing leadership from COLLO and our Canadian member CASAE (Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education) we have begun discussions on potential collaborations on various topics and potential joint activities. Christy Rhodes of COLLO, Wellington Sousa of CASAE and Marlon Sanches of CASAE have been the key leaders in these explorations. This group is also reaching out to determine what activities are happening in conjunction with GRALE 6 in Canada. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO is the existing focal point for activities.
The US GRALE group has also benefited from the helpful exchanges with the ICAE board members and leadership in terms of timing and overall direction for GRALE 6. They are particularly appreciative of that information and welcome any thoughts or advice as the process continues. A number of our representatives have also been active with several of our European colleagues and attended several events where additional collaborations have been discussed. The US members are pleased to announce that the first ever Learning Cities designation has been awarded to Lowell, Massacuchetts. This is the first city in the US to receive this designation and it was an important milestone given the US non status in UNESCO and the lack of a US Commission for UNESCO who is usually the sponsoring organization.
We are hopeful of more positive interactions with UNESCO and our worldwide colleagues in spite of our withdrawal.
Text by Peter Waite, Vice President- North America
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Just4All – Adult Education for a Just Transition
ICAE was proud to be a partner in Just4All, an EU-funded initiative promoting a just, inclusive and sustainable transition through adult learning and education. The two-year project (Oct 2023 – Sep 2025) brought together civil society networks to develop models, tools and evidence showing how adult education can support digital and green transitions while prioritising social justice, particularly for women, migrants and low-skilled adults.
Key outcomes and resources from the project include:
• National background papers examining adult education and just transition policies in Cyprus, France, Ireland and Sweden.
• A Policy Roadmap with recommendations for policymakers and civil society to embed inclusion in lifelong learning systems.
• A practical toolkit for embedding social justice in adult learning and policy practice.
• A webinar series and a MOOC offering learning opportunities on just transition concepts and adult education strategies.
• Best practices exploring just transition education on the national, regional, and global level.
ICAE contributed to consortium research, the collection of good practices and policy advocacy, helping to amplify the role of adult education and civil society in ensuring that transitions are equitable and people-centred across Europe.
Read about Just4All resources and outcomes:https://www.solidar.org/project/just4all-adult-education-for-a-just-transition/
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Adult Learning & Education for the Twin Transition (ALE4TT)
ICAE partnered with EAEA and the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning in the ALE4TT project (Sept 2023–Aug 2025) to strengthen how adult learning and education (ALE) contributes to the digital and green (twin) transition and make the case for this role with policymakers and wider allies.
Key project outcomes include:
• An international training programme co-created with adult educators, supporting organisations to advocate for ALE in the context of digital and environmental change.
• An advocacy toolkit with case studies, methods and practical strategies for promoting ALE’s role in the twin transition.
• Policy recommendations for practitioners, researchers and decision-makers to embed ALE more centrally in transition strategies.
ICAE contributed to co-designing and delivering training, helped shape the advocacy toolkit and policy recommendations, and ensured that perspectives from global adult education networks were integrated into project outputs.
Read more about ALE4TT key outputs: https://icae.global/en/2025/09/adult-learning-education-for-the-twin-transition-ale4tt-key-outputs/ and here: https://eaea.org/project/ale4tt/***
Klagenfurt Research Retreat (KRR) - ESREA Doctoral School
The doctoral school on Adult Education and Transformation is conceptualised as a research retreat, offering a convivial space for intensive scholarly exchange based on discussion and reflection with doctoral students and an experienced international faculty. It places doctoral researchers’ projects, questions and methodological challenges at the centre, with a strong focus on Adult Learning and Education in times of social, political and environmental transformation.
The University of Klagenfurt's green campus is close to Lake Wörthersee with its parks and promenades, and provides the perfect setting for networking, scholarly conversation, contemplation and leisure activities. The five-day retreat combines dialogical forums, workshops and writing labs, fostering holistic learning, peer exchange and international networking within the ESREA research community.
The attached Call for applications has more information. The deadline for submitting applications is March, 08 2026.
Find more information here: https://www.aau.at/erziehungswissenschaft-und-bildungsforschung/arbeitsbereiche/erwachsenen-und-berufsbildung/forschung/doctoral-school-klagenfurt-research-retreat/
Apply here: https://conference3.aau.at/event/243/
Please do not hesitate to contact us at anytime in case you do have any further questions.
Your ICAE Team