Following from his extensive PASCAL studies into the PUMR development, Professor James Powell has upgraded his exploration concerning academic support  for improving the adult learning of citizens throughout the world under the title Towards citizens enablement: A hand-up – not a hand out (Local Development and Society, March 13, 2022, published by Taylor and Francis 0n-line).

In this exploration James shows how academics have the capability to enable citizens’ self-learning to empower them to achieve more for themselves. Those in current need must own their problems and issues for themselves, and learn to embrace them & enact solutions. The innovative capabilities of both academics and citizens can be combined to solve almost any issue facing a community. Past studies of best practice show what can be achieved across a broad range of problems.

For significant changes to occur, the values and behaviour of all collaborative partners must be combined, using a questioning framework, so they share ideas that lead to sensible working practices, and then enact feasible outcomes. And with his PUMP studies this article presents a sensible working approach where over 150 academics have learned to support citizens and best practices have been developed in urban and rural contexts where disenfranchised citizens have indeed learned how to cope with their own social, economic, political, cultural, environmental and other human issues.

The full copy of article is featured below. This is also available on the Taylor & Francis website.