The 2023 International Conference on Adult Education and Lifelong Learning (AdELL 2023), took place in Hong Kong for the first time on 26 and 27 June. Co-organized by the East Asia Federation for Adult Education (EAFAE) and the Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU LiPACE), the successful event was held at the HKMU's campus.
Around 40 adult education scholars and professionals from eight countries and regions, including Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, attended the two-day conference. The wide ranging agenda included discussions on ways of coping with challenges and promoting adult education and lifelong learning in Asia in the “new normal” after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Benjamin Chan, Dean of HKMU LiPACE, said: “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the East Asian Federation for Adult Education. The fact that the organisation chose Hong Kong to host this landmark conference speaks volumes and reflects the city's importance in promoting adult and lifelong learning education in Asia.”
When the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (“RCEP”) came into force on 2 June 2023, the 15 member states accounted for about 30% of the world’s population and its total GDP. Every member is experiencing unprecedented economic disruption and labour market changes created by the COVID-19 outbreak. Combined with the longstanding issue of an aging population, these developments have highlighted the need to accelerate the development of adult education and retraining to address critical concerns, such as skills mismatches and labour availability.
“HKMU LiPACE is honoured to host the 2023 International Conference on Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. We intend to further strengthen our cooperation with the higher education institutions in the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond, and continue to work hard on the development of academic and vocational excellence in the region. And we hope that our efforts will enable more adults to gain access to continuing education and opportunities for retraining,” Dr. Chan continued.
Since its establishment in 1992, HKMU LiPACE has been committed to promoting and implementing its vision for the development of vocational education, adult education and lifelong learning. In recent years, HKMU LiPACE has proactively participated in the work of the EAFAE, and made a significant impact in promoting adult education and lifelong learning in Asia, especially in ASEAN countries and the Greater Bay Area.
由東亞成人教育聯盟（East Asia Federation for Adult Education，簡稱「EAFAE」) 及香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院 (都大 LiPACE) 聯合主辦，於6月26至27日在香港都會大學舉行之2023成人教育及終身學習國際會議（AdELL 2023）已經完滿結束。該會議首次在香港舉辦，近40位來自包括柬埔寨、香港、澳門、日本、菲律賓、新加坡、台灣及泰國等8個國家及地區的成人教育學者及業界人士參與，共同探討如何在新冠疫後的新常態下在亞洲推動成人教育及終身學習。
香港都會大學李嘉誠專業進修學院院長曾德源博士表示：「今年是東亞成人教育聯盟成立三十周年，該聯盟選擇在香港舉行這個具里程碑意義的會議，反映出香港在亞洲推動成人及終身學習教育工作方面的重要地位。」
「隨著《區域全面經濟夥伴關係協定》於今年6月2日生效，15個成員國共佔全球約三成的人口和GDP。新冠疫情後各國正經歷經濟及勞動市場前所未有的轉變，加上人口老化問題，促使我們需要加快成人教育及再培訓的發展步伐，以解決技能及勞動力錯配和短缺的問題。都大LiPACE非常榮幸能夠主辦2023成人教育及終身學習國際會議，我們期望能夠加強與大灣區以至亞洲的高等教育院校合作，為成人及終身學習教育在區內的發展努力，讓更多成年人有接受再培訓或繼續學習的機會。」
都大LiPACE自1992年成立以來一直致力推動及實踐職專教育、成人教育以及終身學習的理念及發展。近年，都大LiPACE更積極參與EAFAE，並在亞洲特別是東盟國家及大灣區肩負起推動成人及終身學習教育發展的工作。
