Exploring further education and training: “who is the further education and training adult learner”?
Maloney, Fiona
(2021)
Exploring further education and training: “who is the further education and training adult learner”?
Doctor of Education thesis, Dublin City University.
This qualitative research focused on Further Education and Training (FET)
in the Republic of Ireland and investigated who is the Further Education
and Training adult learner? Analysis of academic literature produced two
research questions that were explored through a case study approach:
a. The characteristics of the adult FET learner
b. The motivation to pursue a FET course as an adult
This research provides practice based evidence, baseline research and an
up to date context of the FET sector. Analysis of 165 web based
questionnaires and 10 interviews confirmed the characteristics and the
motivations of the Irish adult FET learner. The motivation to engage in
FET was found to be complex and dependent on many variables that
included the satisfaction of need, self-determination and timing. The
traditional profile of FET as a second chance or remedial avenue of
education was challenged, as engagement was not necessarily linear but
horizontal as well as vertical; lifelong and life-wide learning at the NFQ
level most appropriate to their needs. This research also confirmed that
adults seek qualifications. Participants were predominantly female, aged
41-65 years who were balancing multiple responsibilities and were selfmotivated toward the achievement of goals including the achievement of
qualifications, improved employment prospects, and progression to HE.
Participants enjoyed universal familial support for their engagement in
FET but acknowledged the financial responsibility associated with their
engagement. The heterogeneous aspirations of the adult learner and their
need for provision to be flexible, accessible and affordable was confirmed.
The benefits of FET for learners, communities and employers was
demonstrated as was the need for FET providers to remain responsive to
the evolving demands of the economy, society and learners.