Heutagogical Approach: Meeting Today's Educational Challenges

Heutagogy is a learner-centered approach that empowers individuals with autonomy to define their own goals and methods, marking a paradigmatic shift in education. It emphasizes learners’ tendency and capacity to self-determine the learning process and actively engage in the co-creation of knowledge with peers, while fostering metacognitive skills, critical and creative thinking, and adaptability to diverse and evolving contexts. This approach highlights the importance of independent and lifelong learning tendencies and competencies, which are increasingly vital in the face of rapid technological change and the rise of GenAI that challenge traditional education. Heutagogy offers both theoretical and practical frameworks for implementation across disciplines and educational levels, generating growing interest among scholars and practitioners. This research topic explores heutagogy in its broadest context, welcoming theoretical and empirical contributions employing diverse methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative.

Heutagogy (self-determined learning) seeks to liberate learners from a predefined learning process. In this approach, learners as individuals or as small groups chart their own path, deciding on the learning subjects, resources, partners, outcomes, and even assessing their learning. The instructor’s role is to facilitate, stimulate curiosity, and foster the tendencies and skills necessary for self-determined learning, preparing students for lifelong learning in the AI age.
Research shows that the move toward heutagogy represents a profound paradigm shift in conceptions such as teaching, learning, and assessment. This transformation offers opportunities to cultivate learner autonomy but also presents significant challenges for both learners and educators, who must navigate increased complexity and shifting responsibilities. Despite these challenges, heutagogy has an optimal potential to reshape educational practices across diverse age groups, disciplines, and contexts.

This research topic addresses these dynamics by examining how heutagogical approach and principles are applied in varied settings. It aims to bring together studies that examine the opportunities and challenges of implementation, as well as the broader implications for learners, educators, and institutions. By doing so, it seeks to deepen understanding of heutagogy as both a theoretical framework and a practical approach to fostering lifelong learning in the AI age.

The research topic will focus on field-based studies grounded in empirical data, employing diverse methodologies, both qualitative (including self-study and action research) and quantitative. At the same time, it aims to broaden the theoretical framework for the implementation of the approach and invites theoretical articles as well as practical case studies and models. Critical articles that address challenges and elaborate on the ethical, social, and educational implications are also welcome.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Self-determined Learning, Self-directed Learning, Heutagogy, Teacher Education, Online Learning, Educational Innovation, AI-Age

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.