At the ICAE General Members Meeting on 18 November 2025, members from across the globe came together to celebrate a major moment of transition for the International Council for Adult Education. The meeting was facilitated by ICAE President J. Robbie Guevara, who guided members through the programme of tributes, updates, and regional reflections.
The meeting opened with heartfelt tributes to Katarina Popović, marking the close of her exceptional 12-year tenure as Secretary General. Past ICAE Presidents Alan Tuckett and Sandy Morrison offered warm reflections, joined by personal messages from ICAE members acknowledging her unwavering advocacy for adult learning as a human right and her leadership grounded in solidarity and shared responsibility.
ICAE also introduced its new Interim Secretary General, Farrell William Hunter, a highly respected adult educator from Cape Town. In his address, Farrell provided an update on ICAE’s relocation to South Africa—where the organization is now officially registered—thanks to a partnership with DVV International, which will host the new ICAE office from 2026.
In her keynote address, UIL Director Isabell Kempf outlined the global challenges shaping the future of adult education: climate change, digital transformation, democratic erosion, and persistent inequalities. She highlighted chronic underinvestment, fragmented policies, and major data gaps—calling for a broader vision of adult learning that includes climate literacy, peace education, emotional resilience, and civic participation.
Regional updates followed from ICAE’s partners:
- Greta Pelucco (Senior EU Public Affairs Coordinator at EAEA) highlighted adult learning as the bedrock of democracy and social cohesion in Europe.
- Ali Mamman (Chair of PAMOJA Education Board) emphasized the urgency of strengthening adult education in Africa, particularly in relation to youth employment, climate change, and social stability.
- Peter-Clinton Foaese (ASPBAE) shared reflections from the Asia-Pacific, underscoring the importance of culturally grounded, intergenerational community education.
Elarbi Imad – ICAE Vice-President for the Arab Region, also highlighted the growing role of the African Foundation for Lifelong Learning, which has recently signed an MOU with UIL and will formalize its partnership with ICAE by the end of the year.
Members were also updated by Robbie Guevara on the development of GRALE 6, expected in 2027, and encouraged to strengthen civil society engagement through national UNESCO processes.
Robbie concluded the meeting by thanking all the speakers and expressed his appreciation for the continuing support of the membership during this period of transition.
The online Thank-You Card for Katarina Popović remains open until 30 November: https://ctrk.klclick1.com/l/01K9CJTWYYPDNGFQGWNBMH8MP4_1
The recording of the meeting is also available for those who could not attend live: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/t2hKHvhZ1GJrtatDZ8EAGB5u63kB-PI7EOd7ODdj8Jd11p__-puj5v2Hiba5FYD3.3dXwtfpqYzotiP4S . Use this Passcode: ?@c=BS*1
As ICAE enters this new phase, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to global solidarity, strong partnerships, and advancing lifelong learning as a universal human right.
