Second International UNESCO Global Adult Education Chair Malta Conference on Critical Adult Learning and Education - CALE 2025

The University of Malta Valletta Campus was once again, after 2023, venue for a massive international conference organised and convened by the UNESCO Chair in Global Adult Education on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 November 2025.

Over 70 participants were registered for this conference, hailing from South and North America, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe and Asia. This conference followed on the one held in May 2023 in which Adult Learning and Education was combined with Critical Education in general. This conference focused exclusively on Critical Adult Learning and Education (CALE).

The conference programme was planned by the present UNESCO Chair incumbent, Prof. Peter Mayo and the onsite running of the two days was coordinated by Prof. Mayo and prospective UNESCO co-Chair, Dr Maria Brown, with logistical support before and during the conference forthcoming from the University's Conference Unit, particularly Lucienne May Bugeja and Maria Evelyn Vella.

The conference was officially opened by the Dean of Education, Prof. Colin Calleja and the two keynote speakers, one keynote address at the start of each day, were Prof. Roberta Piazza, Università di Catania and Prof. Kenneth Wain, University of Malta.

The programme was jam packed and involved three rooms on the Valletta campus' second floor, including the Aula Prima.

The general enthusiasm for and satisfaction with this event, expressed by many participants are leading the convenors to mull changing this from a bi-annual to an annual event. Work is now about to be carried out on the publication of the conference proceedings.

Both the preceding 'intimate' two day seminar and the CALE conference are considered important events on the international adult continuing education calendar. They constitute two important activities in the work package of the UNESCO Chair in Global Adult Education.