For 27 years, the Adult Participation in Learning Survey has provided a unique insight into adult learning across the UK. It adopts a deliberately broad definition of learning, reflecting the fact that learning is about much more than formal courses and qualifications. The 2023 survey shows almost one in two adults took part in learning in the…

The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the engagement experiences of undergraduate adult students (n = 77) in fully online courses. Results of the study revealed participants spent approximately half of their educational time per week on engagement activities. Participants in this study frequently interacted with peers in activities…

The demand for higher education has been increasing in Jamaica as in many other Caribbean countries. Those who respond to such demands, pursuing further studies in higher education, will need to navigate many obligations and challenges. Additionally, some individuals may be First Generation (FG) adult learners and may lack the tacit knowledge and…

This paper draws on McClusky's Theory of Margin which contains elements of life transitions. Adulthood period is one of growth, change and integration of balance between energy needed to engage in learning. There is an increasing participation of adult learners in higher education institutions. This paper determines whether learners complete…

It has become increasingly difficult for individuals with only a high school diploma to earn a living wage. It is vital for individuals to have more education and training to increase their earnings and be competitive in the marketplace. Adults needing to enhance their skill set or to learn a new skill are enrolling in community colleges, which…

The problem addressed through this study was that, in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms, adult learners in an intensive English program often suffer from tiredness, mental overload, and not having enough time for learning, these are factors which negatively impact their ability to learn English successfully. The purpose of this study…

Adult basic education students manage adult responsibilities and obligations and personal goals related to school. They commit their time and limited resources and thus are investors in their own learning. As investors, their voices matter. When one countywide adult basic education program implemented a systemic plan to ask students upon entry…

Aims and rationale: This study aimed to increase understanding of academic procrastination (AP), as well as indicating strategies which might reduce it. Methods: During phase one, semi-structured interviews were carried out with post-16 students (N=20). Template analysis (TA) was then used to analyse the interview transcripts. General themes were…

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Student Veterans as they pursue a post-secondary degree. The primary focus of the study was threefold: first, to explore the struggles Student Veterans face while pursuing a post-secondary degree, secondly, to explore the positive and negative experiences Student Veterans encounter while…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and reasons why adult undergraduate nursing students, attending an online university in the United States, persisted beyond their first year. Persistence was described as a student's conscious choice to remain in their program in order to reach their educational goals…

The aim of this study was to verify if external factors influence persistence in online courses in higher education. These external factors, borrowed from Kember's (1995) model, included some students' characteristics; cost benefits; social integration of adult students (enrolment encouragement, study encouragement, and family support); and…

MOOCs first became a phenomenon in the higher education landscape in 2008. Ever since, various researches have been conducted to explore the potential of MOOCs as an alternative in the learning and teaching process, and the way forward in delivering the courses effectively. Despite the growing interest in MOOCs applicability in higher education,…

We investigated how students in Finland perceive short-cycle higher education programmes. In line with the European trend, Finland has piloted short-cycle study programmes in order to attract adult students into higher education. We found that the students were mainly satisfied with their studies, and that their orientations to studies and…

The objective of this paper, which makes use of the concepts of power and discipline from Michel Foucault's theoretical framework, is the investigation of the impact that the manner of operation of a Second Chance School (SCS) has on the disciplinary work of a prison in Greece. The research was carried out using semi-structured interviews with the…

Given the rise of social media engagement within society, there are challenges for tutors in blended and online contexts to provide opportunities for social constructivist learning experiences within their institutional learning environments. This article proposes a module approach to teaching, learning and assessment for learners undertaking…