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Most learning activities in continuing education are assigned to enterprise-provided continuing vocational training. There is wide-spread interest in this field and its development. But many researchers point out that the theoretical and conceptual foundations for researching and shaping this field are not adequately unfolded. The variety of enterprise-provided continuing vocational training requires approaches, which allow for differentiation between diverse realities and interests of actors. …
The development of typologies is used as a method in social and educational research that helps to systematically reduce complex information. Thus, developing typologies facilitates theoretical as well as empirical clarification and contributes in this way to the attainment of scientific insights. Typologies are based on the results of comparisons derived from analysing empirical material. These results are then clustered and outlined as dimensions for allocating individual cases, identifying i…
The European Qualification Framework and the National Qualification Framework of Germany are two offer-specific reference instruments, which should be implemented in the German educational and employment systems. Both of them are difficult to estimate in regard to their transparency, penetrability and support of labour market mobility. Enterprises and educational institutes seem to be different in their logic of action concerning their educational and qualification achievements in the society. …
Adult learning professionals are understood in the context of European Policy as key factor for the quality of adult education. In this paper a transnational European study programme, the European Master in Adult Education, is focussed on as an academic contribution to the professionalization of adult learning professionals: What core themes of European Adult Education can be identified? What didactic approaches are required for a transnational curriculum? How is the labour market taken into co…
Pioneers from the Islands - National Qualifications Framework in England, Scotland and Ireland This article looks into the genesis and structure of the qualifications frameworks in England, Scotland and Ireland, compares them and concludes with notes to be taken into account for developments in Germany. The qualifications frameworks described, which are considered the forerunners of the EQF, have improved connections between the educational sectors. Their recognised benefit is the transpare…
Between prestigious office and everyday support. Voluntary commitment in continuing education When people engage in voluntary work in the field of continuing education on behalf of an institution, this is often because organisations believe they can obtain social capital in this manner. These persons then operate as organisers or in development associations. The focus of the author, however, is on those people who voluntarily provide support but often remain invisible – referred to in the li…
Learning from other countries? International perspectives on participation in continuing education at schools of higher learning This article adopts an international comparative perspective to identify the conditions favouring or impeding participation in university continuing education and seeks to answer the question of what we can learn from other countries. To this end, data selected from seven countries through secondary statistical analyses is presented and systematically compared to t…
The demographic development in Germany will lead to the society servicing more older people than younger people. Against this background the contribution shows in which way institutions of communal adult education are called upon for developing specific offers that consider the different educational requirements and educational necessities of a very heterogeneous age group. By means of examples from the work at adult evening classes (Volkshochschulen) the author clarifies how contents, teaching…
This article discusses the Federal German “Orientation course“ and different prototypes for “naturalisation tests“ in the German Länder in the context of comparative integration policy. Integration courses and naturalisation tests have at the same time become a policy tool for promoting integration in a targeted manner in various countries which attract immigration. Following a presentation of the context and the presentation of instruction material in the orientation courses, the authors inter…
Subjective learning substantiations for the study of pedagogy with the field of study of andragogy Insights into a qualitative study Why do people decide for a pedagogical/andragogical study? Which ideas, desires, expectations or also fears do they connect with the choice of this learning- and education path? The learning substantiations for the pedagogical study are the first step towards a path to profession and professionalization. This is why in a regional, qualitative study at the ch…
