2016 Annual Conference

Diaspora, migration, and globalization are changing the demographic landscape, with increasing ethnic and economic diversity among adult learners. This presentation calls for expanding the discourse of adult education to incorporate critical studies of diaspora, making visible the inequality and imbalance of power inherent in the process of migration and resettlement.

With the current refugee crisis in Europe and the ongoing voluntary and involuntary migration the world over, there is growing concern among scholars and practitioners for meeting the needs of the increasing foreign-born adult learner population. This session's audience includes those involved with educating adults within a multitude of contexts to include colleges and universities, adult basic education, community education, ESOL, counseling and adult learner services, workplace education, health education and services, among others. Everyone who educates or provides services to adults should be aware of how diaspora, migration, and globalization impact the lives and identities of individuals and groups.

A review of the adult education literature reveals the glaring neglect of issues that impact the rapidly increasing number of foreign-born adults who take up residence in other countries, either through voluntary or forced migration. Noting that adult and higher education programs are often a new comer’s first stop in accessing learning opportunities to aid in their transition and acculturation, these institutions are often out of touch with the realities of the global world as evidenced by their absence of the discourses on such issues (Alfred & Guo, 2012; Nesbit, 2005; Suarez-Orozxo, 2007). According to Suarez-Orozxo, migration is the human side of globalization, and if that is ignored, we are, ignoring the impact of globalization on individuals, groups, and communities of the diaspora. A major impact of globalization, according to Robertson and White (2007) is its contribution to inequality and imbalance of power. With social justice as the hallmark of adult education philosophy and practice, it is fitting that we engage in discourses that make visible the realities of individuals from diaspora communities. This presentation explores how notions of diaspora, migration, and globalization intersect to inform identities and lives of those who leave their homeland and resettle in other nations.