International Transformative Learning Conference
The Art of Co-Creating Change:
Learning, Acting, and Transforming Collectively
North Carolina State University • Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
October 20, 2026 Preconference
October 21-23, 2026 Conference
November 5-6, 2026 Online Conference
Join us in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
We invite you to join us for the XVI Biennial International Transformative Learning Conference (ITLC) to be held at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, from October 21-23, 2026
Transformative learning (TL) is an area of research and theory that addresses the potential of learning for profound personal and social change. As the most researched theory of adult learning for over 40 years, there is an active community of scholars, educators, counselors, coaches, and other learning professionals exploring and investigating the many different dimensions of TL. The ITLC brings these people together to share research, theory, and practices.
The theme of this year’s conference centers on the transformative power of learning to address the collective challenges of our time—both locally and globally.
Grounded in the concept of co-creation, this focus highlights the necessity of collaborative, creative, and relational approaches to address complex questions. Through this lens, the conference emphasizes learning as a personal and communal act. We invite participants to explore how transformative learning can catalyze both large-scale and small-scale transformations necessary to navigate today’s interconnected challenges.
Conference Design
Preconference
October 20, 2026 • North Carolina State University
Options:
1) Theory-building, 2) Civic Studies, 3) Art as a Response to Borders
In-Person Conference
October 21-23, 2026 • North Carolina State University
Online Conference
November 5-6, 2026 • Online
Why “Art”?
Art reflects the creative, nuanced, and often non-linear processes required to navigate the complexities of learning for change. Addressing collective challenges involves imagination, alternative thinking, empathy, and the ability to weave diverse perspectives into reflection and collaborative action. The term “art” also implies depth, reflection, and mastery—balancing creativity with rigor.
Why “Co-Creation”?
Co-creation is an inclusive and collaborative process that fosters solidarity and relationality. It acknowledges that no single individual or group holds all the answers, and instead, solutions arise through shared efforts, mutual learning, and a commitment to inclusivity.
Why “Change”?
Change is at the heart of transformation. From societal inequities to environmental crises, economic disparities, and geopolitical instability and wars, the urgent challenges of our time demand responses grounded in shared responsibility. This conference is an invitation to embrace the art of co-creating change—through learning as a living, evolving process that integrates diverse perspectives, nurtures relational connections, and generates innovative solutions.
For more information, explore this Powerpoint from a November 18, 2025 conversation with ITLA President Alexis Kokkos and conference co-chairs, Chad Hoggan and Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert.
Preconference: October 20, 2026
The preconference takes place the day before the main conference and offers a full day dedicated to exchange, collaboration, and hands-on engagement. Participants engage in workshops, open discussions, and collaborative working sessions. Registration opens April 2026, and early registration is encouraged, as places are limited. There are three options for the preconference. Choose one.
Theory-building: A Hands-on Workshop for Scholars and Graduate Students
Civic Studies: Co-creating Our Shared Worlds
Facilitated by Peter Levine (Tufts University, USA) and Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert (Universität Augsburg, Germany)
This workshop invites participants to reflect on the possibilities and challenges of co-creating our worlds—exploring civic politics, initiatives, capacity, society, and culture. It is open to newcomers curious about civic studies, as well as former participants of the Institute of Civic Studies, offering a space to connect, think globally, and act transformatively. Since 2009, Peter Levine, and since 2015, Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert (with colleagues) have hosted the Institute of Civic Studies in different countries as a living tradition of learning, acting, and co-creating change.
Art as a Response to Borders
Online Conference: November 5-6, 2026
In the spirit of accessibility, we recognize that not everyone will be able to travel to the in-person, main event. In response to feedback from our community, we are committed to offering an onlilne option for the conference on November 5-6, 2026. This online conference will include paper presentations, just as the in-person conference, as well as a space for reflection, deepened discussion, and expanded dialogue for all conference participants. Keynote addresses given at the in-person conference will be recorded and shown at the virtual conference, with discussion sessions with the speakers directly thereafter.
Participants at the in-person conference automatically will also have access to the online conference. However, each paper can only be presented at one or the other.
If you are unable to attend the in-person conference, you may choose to register only for the online conference.
All proposal submissions should indicate whether the proposal is intended for the in-person conference or online conference. All proposals (whether for the in-person or online) undergo the same review processes, will be included in the proceedings, and are eligible for the Jack Mezirow Living Theory Award (Best Paper).
This online conference will take place after the in-person event, providing a venue for paper presentations for those unable to attend the physical conference. This format allows us to start new conversations while also continuing to build upon insights generated during the main event, encouraging thoughtful follow-up and broader inclusion. By offering both formats, we aim to support equitable knowledge exchange across geographic, institutional, and socio-economic boundaries.
Peter Levine
Peter Levine is the Associate Dean of Faculty and the Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs in Tufts University’s Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. He has helped to develop Civic Studies as an international intellectual movement. Dr. Levine co-founded and then led CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement). He is the author of eight books, including most recently We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: The Promise of Civic Renewal in America (Oxford University Press, 2013) and What Should We Do? A Theory of Civic Life (Oxford University Press, 2022).
Geleana D. Alston
Geleana D. Alston is the inaugural Associate Dean for Research and Community Engagement at North Carolina A&T State University’s College of Education, where she is also a professor in the Department of Leadership Studies and Adult Education. Her research centers on the sociocultural dynamics of women, minorities, and disenfranchised groups as adult learners and leaders. Dr. Alston is the immediate past Co-Editor-in-Chief for New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education and serves on the Boards of Directors for Year Up United, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, and BOMBS Publishing.
Maria Kulikovska
Maria Kulikovska is a multimedia/hybrid artist, architect, actionist-performer, researcher, and lecturer. Born in Kerch, Crimea Peninsula, Ukraine, she has lived and worked in Kyiv and around the EU as nomad and forcibly displaced since the annexation of Crimea by the Russia Federation in 2014. She has organized and performed numerous political performances and actions and has exhibited in esteemed cultural institutions and venues internationally. She co-founded the “School of Political Performance,” a cultural platform for independent art.
Fergal Finnegan
Fergal Finnegan is a lecturer at the Department of Adult and Community Education, Maynooth, National University of Ireland. Previously, he was a community adult educator and literacy worker for a decade. Dr. Finnegan’s research interests include biographical methods, social class, transformative learning, popular education, and social movements. He is a co-convenor of the Active Democratic Citizenship and Adult Learning network of the European Society Research on Education of Adults (ESREA), co-editor of the European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults, and co-editor of the Journal of Transformative Education.
Conference Location
North Carolina State University
NC State is a Land Grant Institution founded in 1887 with a College of Education which is ranked #1 in North Carolina and #12 nationally. NC State boasts one of the earliest graduate programs in adult education (1963) and has been the institutional home of the Journal of Transformative Education since 2016. The university’s Talley Student Center, where the conference will be held, is a state-of-the-art building with all the amenities one would expect: wi-fi and presentation technology, wheelchair accessibility, parking, public transportation, and of course many meeting spaces of all sizes. There is also a large food court in the building, as well as many restaurants within short walking distances. The NC State campus is located at the edge of the downtown area, connected through an extensive public transportation (bus) system. There are many hotels in the area, some of which are within walking distance to campus, and others that can be accessed conveniently through public transportation or through ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.
Raleigh
As the capital of North Carolina and with a metropolitan population of 1.5 million, Raleigh is a thriving mid-size city with an accessible international airport (RDU) with connections to many domestic and international destinations. The airport is located about 20 minutes from downtown, making it convenient for attendees from all over the world. Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle, which includes three world-renowned universities: Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. Because of these and other local colleges and universities, many companies maintain research centers in the area. The city is also known for its vibrant arts, food, and music scenes. From museums like the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural Sciences to award-winning restaurants and green spaces like Pullen Park (on NC State’s campus), attendees have many opportunities to enjoy themselves outside of conference hours.