The Raymond Williams lecture is a prestigious opportunity to reflect on the life and work of Raymond Williams, particularly in the context of adult learning and its transformative potential. The lecture draws a large and well-informed audience of professionals from across civic society in Wales and beyond. It is currently run as a partnership between Learning and Work Institute and The Open university in Wales.
The first memorial lecture to commemorate his work was held by NIACE Cymru (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) and WEA (Workers Education Association) South Wales in 1989. The most recent lecture was held in 2021 and marked the centenary of the birth of Raymond Williams. 2021 also marked the centenary of the Learning and Work Institute – the British Institute for Adult Education was created in 1921, the Institute later became NIACE, in 2015 NIACE merged with the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion to become Learning and Work Institute.
About Raymond Williams
Raymond Williams was a novelist, cultural critic, socialist intellectual and adult educator. Born in 1921 in the village of Pandy, Abergavenny – Williams studied at Cambridge University and became a tutor with the WEA (Workers Education Association). NIACE published his extensive range of essays and lectures on education in 1993. The essays offer an analysis of the conditions for a learning society, Williams was a proponent of liberal adult learning. Josh Cole also offers this commentary on Raymond Williams and his contribution to adult education.
Explore the rich history of our Raymond Williams Lectures
Watch recordings of past lectures from distinguished speakers like Kirsty Williams MS, Sir Michael Marmot, Professor Tim Blackman, and Michael Sheen in our dedicated playlist.
