It was assumed until recently that the majority of research within the field of HRD was informed by a positivist paradigm however this is no longer the case. There is increasing evidence of the use of more diverse methodological approaches. The European Journal of Training and Development has for a considerable period of time encouraged diversity in HRD research and published theoretical, review papers and empirical contributions that utilise positivist, interpretivist, critical realist and critical methodologies and perspectives. HRD as an academic discipline continues to evolve and to gain a foothold within the broader fields of HRM, Education and Organisation Behaviour. This special issue presents new perspectives and addresses the current state of specific sub-fields within HRD.