21世纪是迎接知识经济挑战、推进终身教育、建立学习化社会的新世纪 ,社会的可持续发展以及加入WTO后中国社会的发展变化 ,都将给成人教育带来空前的挑战和发展机遇。同样 ,成人高等教育也在主动适应着社会发展的变革 ,只有从 2 1世纪社会发展需要出发 ,更新成人高等教育发展的观念 ,合理定位 ,探索新形势下的办学模式 ,才能抓住机遇 ,完成新的历史使命。 The 21st century is to meet the challenge of knowledge economy, promote lifelong education and establish a learning society in the new century. The sustainable development of society and the development and changes of Chinese society after joining WTO will bring unprecedented challenges and development opportunities for adult education. Similarly, adult higher education is also actively adapting to the changes in social development. Only from the needs of social development in the 21st century, we can update the concepts of the development of adult higher education, properly locate and explore modes of running schools in the new situation so as to seize the opportunities and complete New historical mission.