Why are more adults returning to school now?

Economic shifts, workforce upskilling demands, and greater availability of flexible online programs have made returning to education more accessible and appealing for adults. Many are seeking new credentials to pivot careers or advance in their current fields.

How are institutions adapting to serve adult learners?

Institutions are offering more evening, weekend, and online courses, as well as expanded advising and financial aid support tailored to non-traditional students. Many are also creating accelerated degree pathways and recognizing prior learning experience for credit.

What role does education technology play in the adult learning renaissance?

Education technology is central to this shift, enabling asynchronous and hybrid learning formats that fit around adult schedules. Platforms offering personalized learning, competency-based progression, and mobile accessibility are especially relevant for adult learners.

Adult Education is Experiencing a Renaissance That is Reshaping the Educational Landscape

Adult education is experiencing a significant resurgence as millions of Americans return to school, compelling colleges and universities to adapt their programs, schedules, and support structures to meet the unique needs of adult learners. Institutions are rethinking traditional models to accommodate students who balance education with work, family, and other responsibilities. This shift is reshaping the broader educational landscape and driving innovation in education technology and delivery.

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By Education Technology · October 5, 2023, 5:21 PM UTCAdult EducationAdult LearnersDisruptedDr. Howard Liebman

Key takeaways

Millions of adult Americans are re-enrolling in educational institutions, creating a growing and underserved student demographic.

Colleges and universities are being forced to redesign programs, delivery formats, and support services to accommodate adult learners' competing demands.

The adult education renaissance is accelerating adoption of flexible, technology-driven learning models across higher education.

The crux of adult education, once a marginal segment, has come into sharp focus as a crucial tool for economic and social empowerment. Per the Center for Law and Social Policy, nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. have not completed high school, representing approximately 12 percent of the population. But even as adult learners make their way back to school, it raises another question.

How can the educational ecosystem pivot to accommodate, support, and uplift adult learners, dispelling myths and addressing the unique challenges they face?

How can the educational ecosystem pivot to accommodate, support, and uplift adult learners, dispelling myths and addressing the unique challenges they face?

For the first segment of the two-part edition of “Supporting Adult Learning in a DisruptEd World,” host Ron J. Stefanski chatted with Vicki Greene, CEO of the GED Testing Service, and Dr. Howard Liebman, CEO and Superintendent of Schools at Smart Horizons Career Online Education. Their conversation explored the transformative potential of adult education, and the strategies to foster an inclusive, empathetic, and empowering learning environment for adult education.

Some standout points from their conversation included:

The Evolution of GED, which includes adapting to computer-centric model from paper, and how many learners it impacts annually.
Dr. Liebman's groundbreaking research on the trauma associated with disrupted education and the imperative to craft learning pathways that mitigate this trauma.
The integration of skill training with foundational education to deliver tangible, immediately applicable results.

About the Speakers

Vicki Greene is the CEO of the GED Testing Service, a program committed to ensuring anyone has the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Under her leadership, the organization has developed innovative partnerships with employers, implemented programs to support learners, and has redefined what adult education looks like.

Dr. Howard Liebman is the CEO and Superintendent of Schools at Smart Horizons Career Online Education. He is recognized for his initiatives in re-engaging adults into the educational system.