Pedagogical Love in Adult Education

This volume explores pedagogical love as a transformative force, in transformative learning settings, in historical perspectives, and in its application in educational systems. It examines both the theoretical foundations and methodological applications of pedagogical love. On the one hand, this book contains basic introductory chapters on the topic of pedagogical love, and on the other hand, it places this concept in the context of decolonisation and critical pedagogy. It also explores the possibilities of pedagogical love in teacher training, both in specific pedagogical fields such as second language teaching or literacy, and in specific cultural contexts such as Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America. Additionally, it examines educational love in the context of current processes of transformation and digitalisation, with focus on purely digital environments and artificial intelligence. Through offering a broad insight into the topic of pedagogical love and providing new perspectives for different research areas in adult education, this book is a must-read for researchers, lecturers 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 Professor of Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies at the Open University of Cyprus, Honorary Professor at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. Pedagogical love is the root and foundation of all adult education. Kaarina Määttä Professor (emerita), University of Lapland