See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271844478 Opening Higher Education to Adults. Final Report. Technical Report · January 2013 CITATIONS READS 0 138 7 authors, including: Karin Dollhausen Johannes Geffers German Institute for Adult Education VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH 49 PUBLICATIONS 37 CITATIONS 10 PUBLICATIONS 11 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Ulf Banscherus Technische Universität Berlin 39 PUBLICATIONS 45 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Governance-Strukturen und pädagogische Leistungsprofile in Organisationen der Weiterbildung View project The Global State of Young Scientists (GloSYS) ASEAN - Creativity an Innovation of Young Scientists in ASEAN View project All content following this page was uploaded by Johannes Geffers on 06 February 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Developing the Adult Learning Sector LOT 3: OPENING HIGHER EDUCATION TO ADULTS Contract EAC 2012-0074 Final Report This document has been prepared for the European Commission. However, it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Prepared by Karin Dollhausen (co-authors: Susanne Lattke, Felicia Scheliga) Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung – Leibniz Zentrum für Lebenslanges Lernen e.V. German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning Andrä Wolter (co-authors: Anna Spexard, Johannes Geffers, Ulf Banscherus) Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät IV, Institut für Erziehungswissenschaften, Abteilung Hochschulforschung Acknowledgements We would like to thank the experts, Prof. Elke Gruber, Prof. Paolo Federighi, Prof. Jean-Marie Filloque, Dr. Alexandra Ioannidou, Chris Holland, PhD, Dr. Susanne Huss, Prof. Carol Kasworm, Dr. Ekaterina Kozina, Prof. Jyri Manninen, Dr. Irina Maslo, Prof. German Alvarez Mendiola, Prof. Balázs Németh, Prof. Katarina Popovic and Prof. Maria Slowey for preparing the case studies and country reports which build the basis for the analyses presented in the present study. We are also grateful to the expert members of the advisory board, Dr. Walburga Katharina Freitag, Prof. Katharina Popovic, Prof. Maria Slowey and Dr. Helmut Vogt, whose commitment and advice to the study were essential. We would like to thank all participants of the project workshop held in November 2011 for their contributions and recommendations and Jerusha Klein for supporting the work of the project team. Especially we would like to thank the members of the advisory board from the European Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture, first and foremost Martina Ni Cheallaigh, for their excellent counselling and support to bring the present study to fruition. Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. © European Union, 2013. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged. Publications Office of the European Union 2013 – 102 pp. + annexes – 21 x 29.7 cm 2013.9374 - NC-04-13-085-EN-N ISBN 978-92-79-34591-3 DOI: 10.2766/65143 1 Contractors Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung – Leibniz Zentrum für Lebenslanges Lernen e.V. German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning Heinemannstraße 12-14 53175 Bonn, Germany T +49 (0)228 3294-121 F +49 (0)228 3294-4121 Email: [email protected] URL: www.die-bonn.de Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät IV, Institut für Erziehungswissenschaften, Abteilung Hochschulforschung Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Faculty of Arts and Humanities IV, Department for Education Studies, Section for Higher Education Research Unter den Linden 6 10099 Berlin T +49 (0)30 2093-1856 F +49 (0)30 2093-1929 Email: [email protected] URL: www.ewi.hu-berlin.de/hsf/ 2 Contents .................................................................................................................... 3 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 6 2 Study Design ...................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Relation to other studies .................................................................................. 9 2.2 Terms and concepts ........................................................................................ 11 2.3 Geographical coverage ................................................................................... 13 2.4 Methodology .................................................................................................... 14 3 The Context of Opening Higher Education to Adults .................................... 15 3.1 Lifelong Learning and related EU education and training policies ............ 16 3.2 Developments in the higher education sector .............................................. 21 3.2.1 Changing student populations 21 3.2.2 New roles for higher education institutions 26 3.2.3 Need for flexible learning provisions 27 3.3 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 27 4 Factors Driving Participation of Adults in Higher Education: Thematic Analyses ........................................................................................................... 29 4.1 Policy and Legislation ..................................................................................... 31 4.1.1 Lifelong learning policies at the national/regional level 32 4.1.2 Higher education/adult education policy and legislation at the national/regional level 34 4.1.3 Specific policies and missions of higher education institutions 37 4.1.4 Conclusions 39 4.2 Flexible access arrangements ....................................................................... 39 4.2.1 Alternative routes into higher education 40 4.2.2 Recognition of prior learning (RPL) 43 4.2.3 Specific programmes widening access for potential Higher education students 47 4.2.4 Conclusions 48 4.3 Flexible programme provisions and modes of delivery .............................. 49 4.3.1 Flexible time structures and duration of higher education programmes 50 4.3.2 Distance learning / eLearning: An emerging standard for the flexible delivery of higher education programmes 52 4.3.3 Local support centres with ICT facilities 54 4.3.4 Curricular flexibility to meet the needs of adult learners 54 4.3.6 Linguistic diversification of programmes 55 3 4.3.7 Conclusions 56 4.4 Student services and support ........................................................................ 57 4.4.1 Guidance and counselling play an important role for adult learners in higher education 57 4.4.2 Conclusions 61 4.5 Teaching methods and teacher training ....................................................... 62 4.5.1 Conditions conducive to implementing ‘new’ teaching modes 63 4.5.2 Curricula: Bridging theory and practice 63 4.5.3 Self-assessment is an essential part of the teaching and learning process 64 4.5.4 Selected approaches to meeting learners’ needs and producing wider benefits of adult higher education 65 4.5.5 Teacher training: A critical factor to successful adult learning in higher education 67 4.5.6 Conclusions 69 4.6 Financial provisions ........................................................................................ 69 4.6.1 Considerable cross-national variety in public funding 70 4.6.2 Decrease of public investment in education in times of crisis 71 4.6.3 Tuition fees for continuing and/or part-time higher education programmes are common practice 71 4.6.4 Developments in financial support for adult learners vary across European countries 73 4.6.5 Limited access to grants and loans 73 4.6.6 Institutional funding models 75 4.6.7 Conclusions 76 4.7 Cooperation with external stakeholders ....................................................... 76 4.7.1 Cooperation from the point of view of opening higher education to adults 77 4.7.2 Conclusions 79 4.8 Response to labour market needs ................................................................. 80 4.8.1 Reacting to labour market needs 80 4.8.2 Professional development as main motivation for individual participation 81 4.8.3 Employers can facilitate participation 82 4.8.4 Conclusions 82 5 Factors Inhibiting Adult Participation in Higher Education .......................... 82 5.2 Institutional factors ......................................................................................... 87 5.3 Individual factors ............................................................................................. 89 4 6 Research on Flexible Learning Provisions and Flexible Delivery of Higher Education Programmes for Adult Learners ................................................... 92 6.1 Lifelong learning .............................................................................................. 92 6.2 Use of ICT – eLearning and blended learning .............................................. 94 6.3 Equity of participation ..................................................................................... 95 6.4 Conclusions ....................................................................................................