Introduction

In this chapter, the author explores action learning, "It is not new; like most development, it is more the re-interpretations and fresh use of old ideas than any acquisition of additional cognitive knowledge". A distinctive feature of the Centre is its focus on bringing experienced practitioners to work intensively in small groups on key issues confronting them: learning together from the whole process of research and development and implementation rather than limiting their learning to one phase of the process. As such, the Centre provides a unique resource base for growing global networks of action learning in many fields of endeavour and serves to bring together many initiatives. Learning from distinguishable action is even more surprisingly different than learning from a subject expert in human or book form, and for those who have worked with and in action learning, the latest form is always distinguishably different from a former experience.