The University of Nottingham and School of Education are delighted that Professor Volker Wedekind has been appointed to the Robert Peers Chair in Lifelong Learning.
Commenting on his appointment, Volker said "It is a great honour to be appointed to such a prestigious and significant chair. At a time when all societies are grappling with the implications of technological, social and workplace changes, the need for research, policy engagement and exchange of ideas around lifelong learning is more pressing than ever. The University of Nottingham established the first Chair in Adult Education, and shaped the field during the 20th century. Together with my colleagues and students at Nottingham and the partners we have around the world and in UNESCO, I plan to build on the work of Robert Peers and my predecessors by advocating for approaches to lifelong learning that focus on the potential for individuals and communities to take control over their learning needs and empower them to address the challenges we all face. The Chair underlines the University of Nottingham's commitment to its community."
About Robert Peers and the Chair
Robert Peers was born into a working-class family in Liverpool and gained an apprenticeship as a shipbuilder as a teenager. He later won a mature scholarship to Liverpool University through evening classes and gained a 1st class degree aged 25.
The Department of Adult Education at University College Nottingham was formed in 1920, following recommendations from the Ministry of Reconstruction Adult Education Committee that universities should do so. Robert Peers was appointed director and two years later, aged 34, was promoted to professor and became the world's first university Chair in Adult Education.
By 1926 Nottingham had the largest extra-mural tutorial class programme in England outside London. By 1936, when the university college had fewer than 600 full-time students, there were more than 4,000 extra-mural students and 2,000 part-time students in technical evening classes.
Peers expanded the department’s geographical area into Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire, and increased the subjects offered. He also initiated scholarships for working-class students, such as miners. He became acting principal of the university college, won it a Royal Charter and full university status, and became the first Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.
After Peers' death early in the 70s, the university named the chair in adult education after him. Professor Volker Wedekind becomes the eighth chair holder following on from Emeritus Professor John Holford who held the position until his retirement in 2023.
The Robert Peers Chair in Education has been renamed as the Robert Peers Chair in Lifelong Education in accordance with current educational and government priorities.
About Volker Wedekind
Professor Volker Wedekind is Head of the School of Education. He joined the University of Nottingham in 2017 following a number of positions at universities in South Africa. His teaching and research has always focused on the intersection between societal and educational policy changes, and how these affect the people engaging with the system. He is particularly interested in the relationship between post-compulsory education and the world of work, and has explored the relationship between vocational education, skills systems and economy in a number of countries. He has also been directly involved in policy processes at national level in South Africa, serving on a number of ministerial committees, government task teams, statutory committees and consultancies.
Volker is Co-Convenor of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre in Nottingham and is actively involved in the UNEVOC Network. He is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Training and Development, and is a Board member of the NGOs Access Agriculture and Programme for Improving Learning Outcomes (PILO). He is a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Researching Education and Labour at the University of the Witwatersrand. His most recent book, published by Routledge and co-authored with Bill Esmond and Johannes K Schmees, is titled Emancipation and Vocational Education: Skills, Bildung and the Subject is in press and will be available before the summer.
Posted on Monday 2nd February 2026