Marcella Milana, Chair of the European Society for Research on the Education of Adults, Visits Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education

On the afternoon of July 2, Dr. Marcella Milana, Chair of the European Society for Research on the Education of Adults (ESREA), Associate Professor at the University of Verona, Italy, and Honorary Professor of Adult Education at the University of Nottingham, UK, visited the Institute for academic exchange. Participants in the meeting included Li Jiacheng, executive vice president of the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education(SMILE); Zou Wen, director of Administration Department; Zhu Min, principal researcher of SMILE and associate professor at the Institute of Vocational and Adult Education, East China Normal University; Jiang Na, part-time researcher of SMILE and associate professor at Shangrao Normal University; along with research assistants Zhu Weiwei and Wang Chaonan, and doctoral student Li Shuhan.

At the outset of the meeting, Executive Vice President Li Jiacheng extended a warm welcome to Dr. Marcella Milana and provided a systematic introduction to SMILE's significant achievements and influence in recent years, covering academic research, theoretical innovation, government consulting, and policy design in the field of lifelong education.

Dr. Marcella Milana expressed her sincere appreciation for Director Li's welcome and highly commended the Institute's series of explorations and practices in lifelong education. She shared updates and future plans for her research on adult learning systems in Italy and Europe, discussed the operational approaches and research priorities of ESREA, and highlighted the shared research interests and solid collaborative foundation between the two parties in areas such as adult education and elderly education.

During the exchange, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including Italy's adult education system, community and elderly education practices, and intergenerational learning, sharing their respective research findings and experiences. Attendees unanimously agreed to further expand collaborative opportunities, strengthen cross-national cooperation and exchange, and jointly undertake research projects in the field of lifelong education.

This academic exchange represents one of SMILE’s proactive initiatives to advance international cooperation and enhance its global influence. Moving forward, SMILE will continue to uphold the principles of open collaboration and mutual learning, broaden channels for international academic dialogue and cooperation, and contribute further insights and efforts toward elevating China's influence in global lifelong education research and participating in international governance of lifelong education.