This volume presents comparisons of adult education and lifelong learning with a focus on educational policies, professionalization in adult education, participation in adult learning and education, quality in adult education, and educational guidance and counselling. The essays are based on comparisons discussed at the international Winter School «Comparative Studies in Adult and Lifelong Learning», held in Würzburg, Germany, February 2015. Sub-topics of lifelong learning were chosen for an in-depth comparison and analysis of the situation in various European countries and beyond.

Regina Egetenmeyer is Professor of Adult and Continuing Education at the University of Würzburg, Germany. Her research focuses on cross-national comparative adult education, professionalization in adult education, lifelong learning, and mobility for learning purposes.

Contents: Bernd Käpplinger/Steffi Robak: Preface - Regina Egetenmeyer: Comparing Adult Education and Lifelong Learning in Europe and beyond: An Introduction - Licínio C. Lima/Paula Guimarães/Nathalie Touma: Adult learning and education policies in Germany, Portugal and Sweden: An analysis of national reports to CONFINTEA VI - Chetan Singai/Gaia Gioli/Eva Riemer/Kapil Dev Regmi/Sofia Mastrokoukou/Shalini Singh: Knowledge economy and demographic change: Comparative case study of Europe and South Asia - Verena Liszt/Mina Toko/Xiaojn Yan: Adult education and its key actors in academic professionalisation - a comparison between China, India and the European Union - Vanna Boffo/Kathrin Kaleja/Khulud Sharif-Ali/Joana Fernandes: The curriculum of study programmes for adult educators - the study cases of Italy, Germany and Portugal - Vanna Boffo/Kathrin Kaleja/Joana Fernandes: Regulations and working conditions for trainers in adult education: A comparative glance - Franziska Semrau/Nataliya G. S. Vieira/Elisa Guida: Academic professionalisation in adult education: insights into study programmes in Germany, Italy and Portugal - Rute Ricardo/Bani Bora/Fabio Camilloni/Loretta Lizon/Mariana Cavaca/Prachi Sinha/Pratibha Kandera/Regina Egetenmeyer: Participation and non-participation in adult education and learning: A comparative study between Portugal, Italy, Hungary, and India - Lisa Hilbig/Sabrina Thom/Silvia Tursi: Comparing Quality Management Systems and procedures in Italy and Germany - Peggy Everett/Christian Müller: Comparative analysis of two quality management models in the U.S.A. and Germany - Nicoletta Tomei/Beatrice Carp/Stefanie Kröner: Guidance and counselling in higher education: A comparison between the career services in Germany and Italy - Maria Grasso/Nicoletta Tomei/Laura Balázs/Deepak Goswami/Bruna da Silva Ribas: Guidance and counseling: processes, methods and activities in a Lifelong perspective - Nicoletta Tomei: A regional perspective on tutorship as a potential lifelong and adult guidance tool - Shalini Singh: India towards a knowledge economy: Alternatives for the global demographic challenge and inclusive development in India - Kapil Dev Regmi: The status of adult literacy and lifelong learning in Nepal.