Pedagogical Love in Adult Education

This volume explores the concept of pedagogical love, highlighting its role as a transformative force across diverse educational contexts, historical developments, and its integration into educational systems. It provides both theoretical insights and methodological approaches to pedagogical love. The book opens with foundational chapters introducing the concept and progresses to situating it within frameworks such as decolonisation and critical pedagogy. It further examines its potential in teacher education, addressing specific pedagogical domains such as second language acquisition and literacy, as well as cultural contexts spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Moreover, the book investigates the implications of pedagogical love in current transformations and digitalisation, with particular attention to fully digital environments and artificial intelligence. By offering a comprehensive overview and presenting innovative perspectives for research in adult education, this book serves as an essential resource for researchers, educators, and practitioners. 

"This edited collection delves into the transformative power of pedagogical love in adult education, challenging conventional views of love as merely ‘soft’ and personal. By exploring critical and decolonial perspectives, the book opens new avenues for research and practice, advocating for love as a profound ethical and political force to confront social injustices and transform educational spaces…Bridging critical and decolonial approaches, this volume reimagines pedagogical love as a key to transformation in adult education. It moves beyond sentimental notions to show how love can address challenges like violence, colonialism, and social inequity, offering a renewed perspective on love’s role in shaping the future of education"

Michalinos Zembylas, Open University of Cyprus

"Pedagogical love is the root and foundation of all adult education"

 Kaarina Määttä, Professor (emerita), University of Lapland

Elisabeth Vanderheiden is a pedagogue, adult educator, and intercultural mediator. She currently serves as the CEO of the Global Institute for Transcultural Research, an organisation dedicated to interdisciplinary research in culture, positive psychology, education, and societal matters. In addition, Vanderheiden holds the title of President of Catholic Adult Education in Germany and is the Managing Director of a Catholic adult education organization located in Rhineland-Palatinate. Her scholarly work primarily focuses on the realm of positive psychology and andragogy. She has edited a range of scientific books and peer-reviewed articles, many of which deal with intercultural and transcultural issues. Her research interests are diverse, covering areas such transformative learning, literacy, humor, love and empowerment. She has also explored the challenges and opportunities presented by Ikigai, digitalisation and artificial intelligence in educational settings. Her scholarly contributions have garnered recognition in the form of awards, including the William B. Gudykunst Outstanding Book Award from the International Academy for Intercultural Research in July 2023. This award was conferred for her co-edited volume, "International Handbook of Love: Transcultural and Transdisciplinary Perspectives," in collaboration with Claude-Hélène Mayer.

Claude-Hélène Mayer is a professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology in the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a Semester at Sea Alumni (SASFA22) and a Board member of the International Academy of Intercultural Research. Further, she is an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Psychology (Positive Psychology) and for the International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management. She holds Doctoral degrees in Psychology, Management and Cultural Anthropology. Her Venia Legendi is in Psychology with focus on Work, Organisational and Cultural Psychology from Europa Universität, Viadrina, Germany. Her research areas include transcultural mental health, salutogenesis, transcultural conflict management and mediation, women in leadership, shame and love across cultures, The Fourth Industrial Revolution, and psychobiography. Her teaching areas are cross-cultural psychology, mental health, organizational theory, systems and design thinking, coaching, positive psychology, organizational behaviour and transcultural conflict management and mediation.

Ana Maria Ferreira Barcelos is full professor of English and Applied Linguistics in the Undergraduate and Graduate Program of Languages and Applied Linguistics at Universidade Federal de Viçosa in Brazil. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. Her research interests are how pedagogical love is related and can be enacted in language learning and teaching; beliefs and how they relate to actions, emotions and identities in the social context of language learning and teaching. She has edited and co-edited the following books: (with Paula Kalaja) Beliefs about SLA: New research approaches by Kluwer (2003); (with Paula Kalaja and Vera Menezes), Narratives of learning and teaching EFL by Palgrave/MacMillan, 2008; and more recently with Paula Kalaja, Maria Ruohotie-Lythy and Mari Aro:  Beliefs, Agency and Identity in Foreign Language Learning and Teaching, by Palgrave/MacMillan, 2016. 

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