Prof. Elisabetta Ghedin

CG8: The social impact of Adult Education on Learners Lifes

Co-Moderator: Mar Joanpere

The social impact of adult education extends far beyond economic or professional benefits, influencing participants' well-being, empowerment, civic engagement, and inclusion. This comparative group will analyze how adult education initiatives contribute to social transformation at individual and community levels across different countries. The topic is relevant for understanding how educational experiences shape life trajectories, particularly for marginalized or underrepresented groups. Expected learning outcomes include the ability to identify and compare indicators of social impact, understand contextual differences, and reflect on the role of adult education in promoting equity and inclusion.

• Santi M., Ghedin E. (2024). Philosophical inquiry and the childness of communities: Connective capabilities for flourishing education. In: (a cura di): Walker M. A. Boni D.C. Velasco, Reparative Futures and Transformative Learning Spaces. p. 239-261, London:Palgrave, McMillan, ISBN: 9783031458057
• E. Ghedin (2021). Social Innovation through Collaboration for Enabling Educational Inclusive EcoSystems: Following Italy's Lead. In: Semon S.R. Lane D. and Jones P. (Ed.). Instructional Collaboration in International Inclusive Education Contexts. INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, vol. 17, p. 71-96, Londra:Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, ISBN: 978-1-83982-999-4, ISSN: 1479-3636, doi: 10.1108/S1479-363620210000017008
• Ghedin E., Aquario D. (2020). Collaborative teaching in mainstream schools: Research with general education and support teachers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WHOLE SCHOOLING, vol. 16, p. 1-34, ISSN: 1710-2146

• Disability and lifelong education
• Educational well being and life design
• Social inclusion / exclusion and flourishing life design
• Independent Living Projects
• Connective capabilities and sustainable and accessible ecosystems

Prof. Elisabetta Ghedin Ph.D. is Associate Professor in Inclusive education at the dept. FISPPA (Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology), University of Padova. Since 2022 she is Master’s Degree Coordinator of Management of Educational Services, Adult and Continuing Education and since 2025, Director of the Postgraduate Specialisation Programme in Educational Support for Students with Disabilities". She is also the Coordinator of the curriculum RIWSE “Research on Inclusion, Well-being, and Sustainability in Education”, PhD. Course on Pedagogical, Educational and Training Sciences – SPEF, University of Padova.