Dear Reader,

This issue introduces us to open learning in Estonian liberal adult education and recounts how women in the Baltic archipelago come together to learn from one another. Articles from the Åland islands and Iceland discuss, among other things, the opportunities and possible obstacles brought on by flexible learning. Another article depicts how Swedish digital course organisers have joined forces in order to meet the population’s education needs better. In addition, we hear differing opinions on the usefulness of ICT in prisoners’ learning and become acquainted with Norwegian men who aim to learn how to control their feelings through participating in a course.

In their different ways the articles illustrate the challenges that characterize flexible learning in the Nordic and Baltic countries today: a transition from technology hype to everyday routine, a strong dependence on firm leadership and inspiration, the differences in how various institutions perceive the individual’s right to learn, new target groups with very specific education needs, etc. The picture that emerges is multi-faceted and provides plenty of ingredients for further discussion and comparisons.

Enjoy!