Being an Adult Learner in Austere Times (eBook)

Exploring the Contexts of Higher, Further and Community Education

Ellen Boeren, Nalita James (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2018
XI, 218 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-97208-4 (ISBN)

Infos

This book examines the experiences of adult learners in times of austerity. The power of adult education to transform lives is well known, and it is especially powerful for those who missed out on educational opportunities earlier in life. Those who have been successful learners in the past are more likely to continue their education and training, making extra support and funding ever-more important: however, in the current economic and political climate, support for adult learning is significantly decreasing. This book sheds light on the experiences of adult learners, despite the difficulties facing the sector: interweaving empirical discussions with theoretical debates, the editors and contributors demonstrate the challenges and struggles of adult learners in higher, further and community education. This enlightening edited collection will be of interest to all those involved in adult education as well as policy makers and funders.

Ellen Boeren is Reader in the Moray House School of Education at the University of Edinburgh, UK. A prize-winning author and researcher, she is also co-editor of UNESCO's Fourth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education, and is currently involved in the Horizon 2020 project Encouraging Lifelong Learning for an Inclusive and Vibrant Europe.

Nalita James is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Leicester, UK. Her research interests centre in the sociology of education, encompassing access to higher education, the changing patterns of education, and adult education and lifelong learning.

Inhalt

Contents 5
Contributors 7
List of Figures 8
List of Tables 10
1 Adult Education in Austere Times: An Introduction 11
Introduction 11
Adult Learning–Does It Matter? 13
An Age of Austerity? 16
Adult Education: Moving Beyond Austerity? 20
Conclusion 25
References 26
2 Being an Adult Learner in Europe and the UK: Persisting Inequalities and the Role of the Welfare State 30
Introduction 30
Measuring Adult Learning Participation in Major Surveys 32
Individual Determinants of Lifelong Learning 35
Educational Attainment 37
Employment 38
Age 40
The Role of the Welfare State 41
Discussion 50
References 51
3 The Message or the Bottle? Community, Associationism and Adult Learning as “Part of the Process of Social Change” 55
Historical Context 56
Class, Knowledge Dispossession and Austerity 57
Class and Education—The Myth of Social Mobility? 62
Adult Education—A Space for Challenge and Resilience 68
Community 69
Political and Social Consciousness 71
Ethic of Service—“Social Purpose Education” 72
Resources for a Journey of Hope 73
References 76
4 Keeping Going in Austere Times: The Declining Spaces for Adult Widening Participation in Higher Education in England 79
Introduction 79
The Higher Education Policy Context in England 81
Data Which Points to the Decline in Enrolments of Mature Learners in Higher Education in England 84
An Access Programme for Widening Participation Students at Birkbeck 86
The Broader Context—The Decline of Adult Education Provision 90
Case Study 2: Outreach at Leeds 92
Keeping Going, Finding Spaces 95
Conclusion 98
References 99
5 Mature Students and Social Isolation: Being Excluded or Choosing to Be Alone? 104
Introduction: Age in an Undergraduate Context 104
The Policy Context: Mature Students and Higher Education 106
The Higher Education Population: Patterns of Mature Student Participation 109
Reviewing the Literature: Factors that Lead to Failure 112
Methods 114
Findings 116
Isolation as a Coping Strategy 117
Isolation as a Result of Feeling Excluded Socially 119
Discussion 123
References 125
6 Subjects in Formation: Women’s Experiences of Access to Higher Education Courses and Entering Higher Education 130
Introduction and Context 130
Literature Review and Theoretical Framework 133
Methodological Approach 135
Analysing the Interviews 137
Returning to Education as Resistance 138
Returning to Study and Navigating Changing Identities 142
Returning to Study and Academic Cultures 147
Conclusion 151
References 154
7 Further Educations: Transformative Teaching and Learning for Adults in Times of Austerity 157
Introduction 157
Contextual Constraints: Notions of the Knowledge Economy 159
The Research 162
Connecting Critical Pedagogy to Critical Methodology 163
Ethics 166
Findings 167
Transformative Teaching and Learning as a Lifeline of Hope 168
Discussion 175
Class Matters in Times of Austerity 175
Social, Cultural and Educational Capitals Matter 176
Communities Matter 177
Formulating Some Recommendations for Policy and Practice 178
Conclusion 180
References 181
8 Adult Education in Community Organisations Supporting Homeless Adults: Exploring the Impact of Austerity Politics 184
Introduction 184
What Is Homelessness and Who Are Homeless People? 185
Homelessness and Education 186
Adult Education for Homeless Adults: The Policy and Practice Context 188
A Study of the Greater Manchester Homelessness Sector 190
Adult Education Provision Across the Greater Manchester Homelessness Sector 191
Victims of the Shrinking Pots: Reducing Resources for Education in Homelessness Settings 193
Responding to Welfare Reform: The Wider Implications of Austerity on Education for Homeless Learners 197
A Significant Change or Just More of the Same? 198
Conclusion 199
Recommendations for Policy and Practice 200
For the Government 200
For the Adult Education Sector 200
For the Homelessness Sector 201
References 201
9 Conclusions and Recommendations 204
Introduction 204
Theoretical and Political Perspectives 205
Ageism 205
Neo-Liberal Ideologies 207
Wider Public Sector Cuts 207
Transformative Power 208
Recommendations for Policy and Practice 209
Change the Idea That Education Is Only Worth the Investment for Younger People 209
Create Links Between the Education Sector and Other Public Sector Services 210
Provide Educators with Training on Working with Adult Learners 211
Be Open About the Benefits of Learning as an Adult Learner 212
Recommendations for Future Research 212
Undertake Research to Further Understand the Effects of Austerity Across Welfare Sectors and Underrepresented Groups 212
Employ a Mix of Research Methods to Further the Understanding of Issues Relating to Adult Learners 213
Explore Issues of Adult Learning at Different Types of Institutions 213
Explore the Impact of Brexit on Adult Learning 214
Final Remarks 215
Index 216

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.12.2018
• Zusatzinfo: XI, 218 p. 14 illus., 13 illus. in color.
• Verlagsort: Cham
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Pädagogik ► Erwachsenenbildung
• Schlagworte: Adult education funding • Adult Learners • Austerity • Education Policy • Recession
• ISBN-10: 3-319-97208-1 / 3319972081
• ISBN-13: 978-3-319-97208-4 / 9783319972084