Exploring the inner aspect of learning. Methodological considerations for investigating life-long learning This article sets out research methods required for qualitative research aimed at understanding the inner aspect of learning. The aim is to make qualitative single case studies more relevant with regard to issues of education policy and social analysis. For this purpose, the following measures are proposed. (1) Close reading and reflexivity: Precisely studying the source texts sheds lig…
The market for distance education of adults is experiencing a change of paradigm that has serious consequences on the financial structure of private schools for distance learning. The article sketches the chances and risks of this development: on the one hand the internet offers new possibilities in the form of net-based training concepts (NBT), on the other hand free of charge courses on the internet could cause the financial collapse of distance schools. The author gives reasons why this is n…
Contemporary discourses in the context of educational governance mostly ignore the field of adult education. Discussions focus on global or national level, the significance of municipalities in managing education systems is widely overseen. This paper picks up the concept of governance to identify the structure and processes of managing adult education on municipality level. On the basis of two model examples the practical implementation of adult education governance will be illustrated, which …
Federal law as envisaged in the socalled Hartz paper provides for the introduction of education vouchers. Is political education concerned? Against this background, the author explores funding structures of political education on the federal as well as on the Länder plane, of municipalities and foundations. Her verdict is disenchanting: many institutions of political education, especially the very small ones, are facing their end. This is corroborated by two statements of experts from the field…
This article investigates the internationally-comparative question how basic education policy is understood at the national level of policy formulation (policy), and how this basic education policy is – taking into account the institutional rules and responsibilities of the multi-level-system (polity) – implemented by a constellation of actors into national education policy (politics). On the basis of empirical data from the project “EU-Alpha”, the interplay of policy, polity and politics in ba…
Can continuing university education be "internationalised"? Factors conditioning success and constraints on the export of continuing education programmes from German, Austrian and Swiss schools of higher learning In the context of a general expansion of the university sector through an ongoing differentiation and new regulatory models, the international orientation has become a key differentiating factor and quality aspect. This article shows that possibilities for greater internationalisati…
Qualification and innovation in the region The contribution of small and medium-sized companies In this contribution the results of a survey of small and medium-sized companies on qualification performances and further education outlays are sketched and follow up points for further results and perspectives of formation are presented.
For various reasons adult participation in lifelong learning does not measure up to expectations tied to the agenda of lifelong learning. The article suggests that adults relate learning activities to their conceptions of life stages. Therefore, participation in institutionalized continuing education must rather be linked to life-stage-dependant decisions based on sociocultural patterns than to the acceptance of lifelong learning in general. Specifically in the stage of professional life, these…
Institutionally organized adult education has traditionally seen the integration of social strata and groups as its most important task. However, in recent years an increasing disinterest of general adult education in integrative work is to be observed which goes along with the emergence of a specialised andragogical approach and institutional compartmentalization: people with disabilities are increasingly catered for by care facilities and financed by social welfare institutions. The emergence…
This article presents results of a field study exploring why illiterates start relearning reading and writing at a later age. The project SYLBE focused on reasons and obstacles of participants in basic education classes. The study provides a typology of motivations for learning and thus supports the professional acting of teaching staff in basic education.
