On 6 and 7 November 2025, the second UNESCO Chair International Conference in Critical Adult Learning and Education (CALE) will be held at the University of Malta Valletta Campus. The UNESCO Chair is housed within the UM's Faculty of Education, Department of Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education.
To date 63 abstracts have been uploaded on the conference website, which exceeds the minimum threshold of 50. Because of demand by late applicants, the deadline for submission of abstracts is being extended to 15 May 2025. This is a fitth and final deadline. No extensions will be granted after this date. Co-convened by UNESCO Chair holder, Prof. Peter Mayo and his department colleague, Dr Maria Brown, the conference attracts scholars from all corners of the world.
The two keynote speakers are internationally acclaimed academics Professor Roberta Piazza from the Università degli Studi di Catania, an international authority on Lifelong Learning policy making, and Prof. Kenneth Wain from our University of Malta and an international authority in Philosophy, Education and Lifelong Education / Learning.
The conference takes place soon after the more intimate annual UNESCO Chair Malta Seminar on Global Adult Education with its usual five invited speakers that, this year, are: Professor Maria Slowey, Dublin City University. Professor Edith Gnanadass, University of Memphis, Professor Sandra Vatrella, Università di Napoli Federico II, Professor Hans Schuetze, University of British Columbia and Dr Maria Brown, University of Malta. This is the third edition of the seminar which takes place in the intimate setting of the UM's Faculty of Education Boadroom with hospitality provided by the UNESCO Chair at the Urban Valley Resort Hotel, Kappara at walking distance from the seminar venue.
