AJAL promotes critical thinking and research in the field of adult learning as well as the theory, research and practice of adult and community education. It has been published for over fifty years and covers a wide range of topics of interest to those in adult education.

In this edition researchers turn their attention to examining how initiatives to widen access and participation in higher education, which has been a central policy aim in Australia for nearly a decade, are playing out.

AJAL is free for members of Adult Learning Australia.

Author: Cathy Stone - University of Newcastle & Open Universities Australia, Sarah O'Shea, Janine Delahunty - University of Wollongong, Josephine May - University of Newcastle, Zoë Partington - Open Universities Australia

The researchers investigated the experience of 87 mature age students who were the first in their families to attend university. They enrolled in online study and through a series of interviews and surveys data was collected to identify the range of factors that helped these adult learners. Read more

Authors: Eric Kong, Sarah Harmsworth, Mohammad Mehdi Rajaeian, Geoffrey Parkes, Sue Bishop, Bassim AlMansouri, Jill Lawrence – University of Southern Queensland

How culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students from refugee backgrounds make their transition into higher education in a regional setting is the subject of the research group. During the recent election campaign in Australia government Ministers suggested that immigrants were potentially a burden on the Australian economy and social welfare system. This research  looks more closely at the experience of a group of students and also interviews university adminstrative staff to identify the wide range of challenges that need to be considered in developing effective strategies and policies to make transition successful. Read more

Joanne G. Lisciandro & Gael Gibbs – Murdoch University

This paper report on research into the types of mechanisms being used at one university to facilitate high retention rates among pathway students over a seven year period, and which has then converted into achieving a high rate of offers of places in undergraduate programs. Read more

Authors: Jenny Chesters & Louise Watson – University of Canberra

This paper also investigate the effects of pathway programs on student achievement and attrition, but apply a different research methodology. A number of barriers to gaining entry have been dismantled as part of the opening up of higher education to non-traditional students. The reseachers examines adminstrative date for a cohort of first year university students to examine the association between pathway to university and student retention and academic progression. Read more

Authors: Trixie James – Central Queensland University

There are those students who enter university who have been away from the formal education system for some years since completing school. Their transition into tertiary study is the subject of this paper, and in particular the experience of attending preparatory programs for pre-skilling. Read more

Authors: Vaughn John - University of KwaZulu-Natal

A case study in a far different setting reports on a study of an adult education project in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal. The paper revisits the theory of transformative learning noting that it has been an underpinned theory of adult education for many decades and over that time it has also been the subject of some recurring critique. A central question raised here is whether the theory is able to be put to use in oppressive contexts, such as post-apartheid South Africa. Read more

Finally, please note the Call for Papers for a Special Issue of AJAL in November 2017 on the Getting of Wisdom - Learning in Later Life, and the three conferences scheduled for later in February on this topic.