Anna Anastasopoulou
is a social-organisational psychologist specializing in systemic-dialectic epistemology. She is an adjunct lecturer at the Open University of Cyprus and a researcher at the Laboratory of Organizational Innovation and Management Systems, Greece. She has extensive research experience on lifelong learning, women’s and SME s entrepreneurship, work-life balance, professional development, sustainability, and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups. Her published work and professional interests focus on applying systems approaches to foster resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurship in individuals, groups, organizations, and communities. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7420-6376
Olena Anishchenko
is the head of the Andragogy Department at Ivan Ziaziun Institute of Pedagogical and Adult Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. She is Ukrainian researcher in the field of andragogy and history of pedagogy. Olena is an expert at the National Research Foundation of Ukraine. Deputy editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Adult education: theory, experience, prospects. Her research interests are history, tendencies of adult education development in Ukraine and abroad; andragogical principles of specialists’ professional development; professionalisation of andragogues; recognition of non-formal and informal adult learning outcomes; communities and regions of learning. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-2321
Nataliya Avshenyuk
is the head of the Foreign Systems of Pedagogical and Adult Education Department, Ivan Ziaziun Institute of Pedagogical and Adult Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. She is Ukrainian researcher in the field of Comparative Education and Andragogy. She manages fundamental scientific research, revealing global teacher and adult education quality assurance trends. She is a board member of the National Agency of Higher Education Quality Assurance (Ukraine). Member of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Section 19 “Pedagogy, Psychology, Youth and Sports”. Expert of the State Service of Education Quality of Ukraine on improving the system of pedagogical staff professional performance evaluation. She is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Comparative Professional Pedagogy Journal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1012-005X
is a graduate of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education—University of Toronto. A professional educator for the past three-and-a-half decades, the former Head of the Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education, at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, and former Dean of the aforementioned faculty researches, writes and lectures in curriculum studies; sociology of education; social-justice education; critical pedagogy; adult education for community development; and parental issues in education and beyond. Borg teaches internationally, where he holds honorary visiting professorships and academic membership in the Netherlands, Lithuania and Scotland. He is the author, co-author and editor of a number of books and academic papers that explore the relationship between education, democracy, social justice and emancipation. In addition to serving as associate editor of a number of periodicals, he is the editor of the Malta Review of Educational Research (MRER) and the Education Research Monograph Series (ERMS), and co-editor of the Postcolonial Directions in Education (PDE). As a public intellectual, his expert opinion is often sought by new and traditional media outlets. Borg is a long-standing member of the International Parent Centred Network (IPCN) and the editor of its (2022) publication entitled ‘Reimagining parenthood in diverse contexts: A handbook of parent-centred approaches’. In December 2022, on Malta’s Republic Day, he was awarded the National Order of Merit for his outstanding contribution to social justice in education. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-1623
Brigitte Bosche
holds a degree in Educational Science with a specialisation in Adult Education. Since 2001, she has been a researcher at the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) where she coordinates the DIALOG-practice network for knowledge transfer and innovation and the GRETA-service unit. Her work focuses on the professionalisation of adult education personnel, particularly on competency recognition and validation. She has contributed to the development and evaluation of the GREAT-competence model and has investigated its effects on professional development. Her research also explores the validation of learning outcomes, the interplay between research and practice in adult education, and the role of theory in fostering dialogue between academia and educational practice. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3140-7590
Maria Brown
is a senior lecturer in adult and community-based education at the University of Malta. She develops and coordinates undergraduate programmes and
Maria N. Gravani
is an associate professor of Adult and Continuing Education at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) and Director of the MA in ‘Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning’. She has published widely her research in areas which include: the teaching and learning of adults, across a variety of contexts (higher, distance, second chance education, education for migrants), as a means of individual empowerment and social change, the professionalisation and identity of adult educators, older adults’ learning. She is an elected member of the ESREA Presidium and a co-convener of the ESREA network on ‘Adult Educators, Trainers and Their Professional Development’. She is Co-editor of the Journal of Adult and Continuing Education (JACE). https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7948-6466
Larissa Jõgi
is an associate professor of Andragogy at the School of Educational Sciences at Tallinn University, Estonia. She has been involved in many international research projects and has edited/coedited journals and books. Her professional and academic experience includes research, publishing and leading interdisciplinary research group ÕPPES, supervising master and doctoral students and teaching in the international higher education context. Her research focuses on adult learning in different settings, the professional identity of university teachers, learning during life, professionalization and social positions of adult educators, and qualitative research methodologies. She published actively and she is the author, co-author and editor/co-editor of several books and more than 100 publications. Her academic expertise relates to qualitative research, professional path, professional identity, social positions and innovative teaching practice of academics. Her current research interests include social positions and identity of educators and academics; adult learning, educational innovations in adult and higher education, teaching and learning at university, teaching practice in adult and higher education, and methodology of qualitative research. During past years, she has been involved in many national and
Kristi Jüristo
is a junior research fellow at the School of Educational Sciencesat Tallinn University, researching the development of students’ professional identity and agency during undergraduate studies. Her practice and research interests are related to youth work, and professional development, including professional education of youth workers. More information is available in https://www.etis.ee/CV/Kristi_J%C3%BCristo/eng. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7878-0678
Katrin Karu
is an associate professor of Andragogy at Tallinn University, School of Educational Sciences in Estonia. She served as the head of the andragogy curriculum for 10 years. She has also works as an academic developer and as an adult educator. Her research interests and publications include adult learning in various contexts and environments, communities of practice, and the professional development of adult educators and university teachers. More information is available on ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Katrin_Karu. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7787-0103
Evangelia Koutoulianou
is a PhD candidate in Adult Education at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Open University of Cyprus. Her research focuses on adult educators’ identity formation for active democratic citizenship. She employs critical theories in her research. Currently a primary school teacher in Greece, she brings practical experience to her academic work. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7093-5341
Susanne Lattke
holds an MA degree in romance philology and history and a Master’s degree in adult education. Since 1995, she has been working at the German Institute for Adult Education—Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (Bonn) in various positions, mainly in international projects and networks. Currently, she is a research associate in the Department of Teaching, Learning Counselling. Key areas of interest besides the professional development of adult educators include
Borut Mikulec
is an associate professor of adult education at the Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. His research fields are comparative adult and continuing education, the role of transnational organisations in education policy, the policy in adult education, European and national qualifications frameworks, professional development of adult educators, recognition of prior learning and active citizenship. He is editor-in-chief of the Studies in Adult Education and Learning journal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4500-3091
Stephen O’Brien
is a senior lecturer at the School of Education, University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. He is Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education (PDFACE) in the university. He has published widely on adult education; educational inclusion (including multicultural education); educational policy; curriculum and assessment; critical pedagogy (including links to Development Education and Global Citizenship Education) and learning theory. He currently serves on the academic expert committee that advises on the National Further Education and Training Learner Forum (NFLF) and is an editorial board member of the Adult Learner Journal (ALJ)—Ireland’s primary journal for Adult & Community Education. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6215-6815
Eleni Papaioannou
is a researcher and educator specialising in adult education, with a focus on teaching strategies, second-chance education, and the impact of European policies on learning structures. She is also exploring methods to enhance adult learners’ empowerment and well-being, as well as developing inclusive learning environments that provide equal opportunities for all learners. More information is available on https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eleni-Papaioannou-2. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1754-5360
Halliki Põlda
is an associated professor of Lifelong Learning at Tallinn University, School of Educational Sciences. She is the head of the bachelor’s curriculum in
Cynne Põldäär
is a visiting lecturer at Tallinn University’s School of Educational Sciences and a supporter of the teaching skills of teaching staff, entrepreneur and adult educator. Her practice and research interests are related to entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and various communities of practice. More information is available on https://www.etis.ee/CV/Cynne_P%C3%B5ld%C3%A4%C3%A4r/eng/. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4872-6295
Ilona-Evelyn Rannala
is an associate professor of Youth Work Management at Tallinn University. She teaches and supervises youth work and PhD students and is actively involved in international research and cooperation. Her research interests are mainly related to the professional growth of youth workers, non-formal learning and youth participation. More information is available on https://www.etis.ee/CV/Ilona-Evelyn_Rannala. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7806-2012
Maria Santa
is a freelance adult educator, mathematician and statistician. She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the Open University of Cyprus. Her experience in nonformal adult education in the fields of economics and functional skills in mathematics. She has taught in British, Greek and Cypriot schools and attended courses at UCL and the University of Liverpool. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6935-5910
George Zarifis
is a professor of Continuing Education at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. He has a strong background in philosophy, pedagogy, and psychology. His research focuses on the professional roles, identities, skills, and competencies of adult educators and vocational trainers in Europe (including academic teaching staff in higher education), the quality of adult education and learning, the validation of non-formal and informal learning, adult participation in organized educational and training activities, and the