Current understandings of a knowledge economy have been emerging from two defining forces: the rise in quality and intensity of knowledge as a key commodity for economic development and the increasing globalization through information technology of both knowledge exchange and economic activities. The future of adult higher education is focused on this knowledge-based economy growth and specifically of the role of adult higher education in the development and diffusion of new knowledge under the broad framework of lifelong learning. This new era of global economies and information society has refocused and expanded the leadership role of adult higher education to become a pivotal contributor to this new global environment. In this essay, the author will highlight three key trends in global adult higher education in this new environment of the knowledge society. These trends include: (a) creative contextual learning for initial and continuing workforce enhancement, (b) digital age providers: importance of cyclical access and ubiquitous participation, and (c) knowledge creation through critically reflective engagement: learning for continuous change. (Contains 1 footnote.)