Rob Mark

Diversity, inclusion, and a concern for social justice characterize Rob Mark’s innovative contributions to adult and continuing education over the past three decades. His multifaceted research and projects range from access and adult literacies to age friendliness and social inclusion. He is well respected for his ability to blend practice—as a manager, teacher, and author—with a high level of scholarship. His projects have improved access to and quality of lifelong learning for adults both in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, as well as in many other parts of the world. His involvement with projects focused on education for peace and reconciliation in his native Northern Ireland enabled him to engage with practitioners and researchers in other regions experiencing similar problems. This has included working with practitioners and researchers in Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, and Israel.

Since 2016, Mark has served as senior honorary research fellow and honorary professor in the School of Education at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He has been Learning Cities coordinator for the PASCAL Observatory since 2014. In this context he has managed policy-orientated networks that share ideas and experience-directed and innovative responses to big issues confronting cities in the international arena. These networks have facilitated discussion and research into diverse fields in lifelong learning such as inclusive economic futures, sustainability, and environmental resilience. He is also tackling rural isolation, museums, culture, and heritage, and faiths and learning in city development. Mark has accepted invitations to visit and address staff and students at a number of universities in India. He has also been appointed as honorary senior fellow for the Centre for Neighborhood Studies at the University of the Philippines. Mark is a member of the Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Network in Ireland, which he cofounded in 2006. He was also elected to serve on the expert management group of the European University Continuing Education Network, organizing international conferences and carrying out research into lifelong learning across Europe.

One of Mark’s most notable achievements in continuing education has been assisting older adults who have experienced exclusion from learning to more easily access and progress through lifelong learning programs. As head of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland (2010–2014), he expanded programs for adults age fifty and over to reach thousands of participants annually. He spearheaded the development of new programs, engaging urban and rural adults to access university courses in art, drama, languages, and new technologies. Mark also established an action research group to involve adult learners in assessing their own needs. This approach was later disseminated through action research projects in Europe and in other universities in Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan.

Throughout his career, Mark has championed the “age-friendly university” concept, which has enabled higher education institutions to actively include older adults in educational programs, research, and campus life. Working with colleagues at Dublin City University and Arizona State University, he established a global network of universities focusing on later-life learning. He also collaborated with researchers in Australia investigating men’s attitudes and involvement in lifelong learning and identifying ways to increase their participation.

Alongside his professional contributions, Mark is a prolific volunteer. His service ranges from working with prisoners and young offenders to providing support for people with physical and mental disabilities, counseling and befriending AIDS sufferers, and supporting organizations working with war veterans and victims of international conflicts.