Usage of the data from statistics on adult education centers in Germany. Potentials for research, politics and practice

Abstract Provider statistics are an important pillar in a fragmented structure of adult education statistics. The article discusses the special prerequisites for the emergence and use of the German “Volkshochschulstatistik” [Statistics on Adult Education Centres in Germany] and the “Verbundstatistik” [Statistics on Continuing Education Network], which are compiled as voluntary statistics by means of cooperation between the adult education associations and the German Institute for Adult Education. We outline the use of these statistics in the contexts of educational research, educational policy and educational practice. In addition, the analytic potential which emerges from the revision of the statistics will be pointed out.