UCU: Expanding UCU's definition of Adult Education

Motion

Motion text: Conference notes that UCU's current definition of Adult Education does not formally include colleagues in Further Education who teach adult learners, despite significant overlap in practice, pedagogy, and professional context across these groups.
Conference further notes that the Annual Adult and Community Education Conference in March 2026 saw significantly increased attendance when eligibility was relaxed to include FE colleagues teaching adult learners.
Conference believes that broadening this definition would strengthen our collective voice and better reflect the breadth of adult learning within UCU.
Conference resolves to:
1.permanently expand UCU's official definition of Adult Education to include FE members who teach adult learners
2. update ACE Conference eligibility criteria accordingly
3. review relevant UCU policy documentation and structures to reflect this change
4. report progress to Conference 2027 on membership uptake, changes to conference participation, and any recommendations for further structural or policy alignment.