ESREA’s history begins in December 1991 with a draft proposal circulated among researchers from different disciplines at conferences and seminars to create a research forum on adult education.

ESREA’s mission is to advance high-quality research into adult learning and education in Europe by sustaining cooperation between researchers, in the European context conceived in the broadest geographical terms; developing research and disseminating results in all areas of adult and continuing education; training novice researchers and continuing professional development of researchers; and relations with other European organisations and with the relevant national organisations.