There are many different people who have defined adult education over the years. Some of the most notable definitions include:

• Eduard Lindeman (1926): “Adult education is the process of remaking one’s self and one’s world.”
• Malcolm Knowles (1970): “Adult education is the process whereby persons who are regarded as adults by the society to which they belong seek to improve their knowledge, to develop their abilities, or to change their attitudes, values, or social skills.”
• UNESCO (1972): “Adult education is the whole range of organized educational activities, whatever their level, providing opportunities for those persons beyond the initial formal schooling to acquire knowledge, to develop their abilities, to enrich their cultural life, and to improve their capacity to participate actively in the development of their communities.”

These definitions all emphasize the importance of adult education as a process of lifelong learning that can help adults improve their lives in many different ways.

In addition to these general definitions, there are also many specific definitions of adult education that focus on particular aspects of the field. For example, the National Institute of Adult Education (England and Wales) defines adult education as “any kind of education for people who are old enough to work, vote, fight and marry and who have completed the cycle of continuous education, [if any] commenced in childhood.”

The specific definition of adult education that is used will vary depending on the context. However, all of the definitions share the common goal of providing adults with the opportunity to learn and grow throughout their lives.