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The dissertation analyses the contribution of a social space research perspective to the understanding of (non-)participation of groups of less well-educated individuals in organized further education. Both, the theoretical as well as the methodological framing are defined by a social space perspective. In a substudy of the project “Learning in Social Quarters – Significance of Social Space for Further Education”, at the German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Center for Lifelong Learnin…
For 30 years, the author has been director of the communal adult education institute “Volkshochschule” at a middle-size town in Southern Germany. In 1998, the costs of 3 million DM were financed jointly by the town (50%), the participants of the courses (40%) and the Land Baden-Württemberg (10%). In the next three years, the "Volkshochschule" has to reduce the communal subsidy by 12%. The article deals with the financial challenges the institute faces in its new situation of competition at the …
The question how to improve the short-term as well as the long-term success of continuing vocational education and training (CVET) is of great importance for companies. Currently, however, evaluations in practice are still often only of a summative nature. Based on a practically applicable model and empirical data from participants in a wide range of CVET courses (N?=?477), this paper presents various factors organisations can use to affect the subjective success of CVET, both in the “learning …
The report presents first results of a study dealing with the whereabouts of former participants of literacy classes. Assuming courses of adult education have a beginning and an end, the authors pursue the phenomena of participants sojourning permanently at adult education courses. Taken data material into account, the reconstruction of possible reasons for staying in the courses finally leads to the demand for an initial consulting – analogical to the starting and learning consultation in the …
279 participants in a survey on elearning applications for foreign language learning in Volkshochschulen (German adult education schools) had little prior knowledge. While they do indeed have interest in such applications, they still keep to formats known from their previous learning experience. The participants in the survey estimate the potential of e-learning applications for foreign language learning as positive, but only in combination with traditional non-virtual classes. The…
The article refers to the demand for adult economic literacy as well as its objectives. Present demands require intensification. These demands are evident in the behaviour of educational consumers and providers, and even more so in the social expectations expressed by all relevant groups. The text concludes with a reference to the particular public responsibility to provide suitable programmes.
Der Beitrag zielt darauf, der Weiterbildungsdiskussion unter der Perspektive der demographischen Entwicklung eine quantitative Basis zu geben. Dazu werden für einen größtmöglichen Zeitraum die Altersstrukturdaten aus der Volkshochschul-Statistik in Beziehung zu Daten der Bevölkerungsstatistik („demographischer Wandel“) gesetzt. Die Altersstruktur der Belegungen von Volkshochschul-Kursen wird in der Entwicklung beschrieben und in zwei Stufen analysiert. Ergebnis ist, dass die Altersgruppen kontr…
In her dissertation, the author collected and evaluated self-assessments of language study travellers travelling with Carl Duisburg Centres. 90 participants were questioned quantitatively. In addition to the expected competence improvement of foreign languages, the flexibility and mobility as well as intercultural competences were increased. The competence acquisition in connection to the participants’ individual ages was investigated in a supplementary qualitative research.
Indivisible but Limited. Inclusion in View of Severe and Multiple Disabilities in the Light of the Danish Experiences “Indivisibility“ is given the upmost priority in the discussion about inclusion. Does “indivisible” also imply “unlimited”? The author sees limitations to the right of inclusive adult education. Acknowledging these limitations is a prerequisite for developing successful forms of inclusion. Not attracting a sufficient number of “non-disabled” participants is a limitation of p…
