Over the past decade, many government and policy documents have highlighted with greater urgency the need for lifelong learning. What do present mission statements of Canadian universities have to say regarding lifelong learning? In researching this question we analyzed the institutional mission statements of 58 Canadian universities to identify…

Autobiography has generally been recognized for its literary and artistic aspects, and as a result has been largely overlooked as an instructional method in adult and continuing education. This paper argues for a wider use of autobiography in adult and continuing education programs, proposing that autobiography actually encompasses not only the…

Peer evaluation has been criticized as a threat to academic freedom and has been used, usually erroneously, as a justification for academic reappointment, tenure promotion, and merit pay. In recent years, scholars have recommended that peer consultation, which is primarily designed to improve teaching, be honored, but apart from evaluation. In…

Research on student assessment in online environments has not been extensive, although manuals for instructors provide broad guidelines and specific procedures. In this article we review the most frequently reported approaches to online assessment in postsecondary settings, giving particular attention to systems for assessing the quality of…

Adult and continuing education practitioners must engage in continuing professional education as a means of developing and maintaining their professional competence. This paper reviews the literature on competencies for continuing educators and examines the strengths of existing instruments for continuing educators to self-assess their…

This study examines the attitudes and future plans of students who discontinued their studies in university certificate programs. These non-returning students were separated into three groups: opt-outs, stop-outs, and drop-outs. Two separate surveys were undertaken; one survey consisted of students enrolled in a certificate program offered by the…

By 2027, adults over 65 will represent 21% of the Canadian population. Trends such as higher educational attainment, growing expectations, and altered retirement patterns will require universities to increase programs and services for older learners. These learners will patronize responsive institutions or create their own. (Contains 30…

Focus groups with 62 Alberta adults identified health learning needs; results were used by a community-university partnership to develop health education sessions in local settings. The initiative focused on community needs and participation rather than the dominant revenue-generation model, which has questionable ethical standing in…

Education and employment experiences were compared for women in mixed-gender (n=27) and same-sex (n=73) management certificate programs. Although both groups enhanced knowledge, income, and career advancement, same-sex classes were associated with greater gains in management level, income, and critical awareness of gendered occupational…

A follow-up to a previously published survey on the acceptance of the Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education in an electronic format, this article discuses ways to overcome criticisms of the peer-review process, ways in which library journal collections are changing, and the role of reader surveys in making format changes. (SK)

A study of registered nurses participating in an Internet-based cardiac education program included analysis of online discussion forums. Comments about evidence-based theory and discipline-specific wiring indicated that the environment facilitated online scholarly discourse. Interactions provided moral, technical, and academic support to…

A poll of Canadian Journal of University Continuing Education readers to determine format preferences (107 responses) found that only 34% were aware of the online version; 78% did not access it online; 51% wanted paper continued even with full text online. Results suggest that readers want the benefits of both paper and online access. (Contains 23…

Responses from 23 of 35 leaders of lay minister education programs indicated liberal attitudes on some issues (social justice, women's ordination); 74% were hopeful about the church's future; 17% felt at risk because of their views; 32% experienced little or no congregational support; and 82% felt that the church needed to improve its acceptance…

Presents a theoretical framework for teaching and learning research literacies. Describes a classroom demonstration involving graduate student cohorts in appreciative inquiry into practitioners' ways of writing. Addresses the issues of human subjects, informed consent, and the ethics of representation. (Contains 49 references.) (SK)

A study of 113 Canadian pharmacists attending continuing education on asthma compared two methods of needs assessment: perceived needs and knowledge-based needs. Scores indicated no relationship between the two kinds of needs. Needs assessment in continuing professional education thus should recognize and address the limitations of self-perceived…