A wide range of literature has already emerged which assesses the sudden closure of Higher Education Institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when many academic institutions turned to ERT (emergency remote teaching) in order to maintain teaching and learning. The Faculty of Lifelong Learning at Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland,…

Interviews were conducted with 29 part-time taught postgraduate (TPg) students to determine forms of teaching and curriculum which motivated their learning. The study was conducted in an open exploratory manner to investigate the aspects of pedagogy or curriculum design which particularly motivated the TPg students which were in any way distinct…

Part-time postgraduate students make up a significant proportion of the student population, yet their experience remains poorly understood. In this article, a multi-phase, explanatory mixed-method study conducted within Tasmanian health and human services provides some answers. Students reported improved job performance, self-esteem and increased…

The article proposes a new way of analysing and understanding blended learning and contributes to current debates about adult learner motivations for study. It argues that, whilst the validity of the Andragogical Model has been criticised, it has provided a useful framework of analysis in the context of blended learning to meet the needs of adult…

This article critically assesses the nature and scope of current financial support for part-time undergraduates in England, highlighting its importance for widening participation. It considers the limitations of these financial arrangements, why they are in need of reform, and some of the consequences of their inadequacies. The paper argues that…

This paper examines the motivations and outcomes for mature students who study part-time in higher education (HE) in the UK. Although many students in HE are mature part-time learners, they have not been the specific focus of much research or policy interest. In-depth narrative interviews were carried out with 18 graduates who had studied…

Foundation degrees have been developed in the UK as a means of meeting the learning needs of paraprofessionals in health and social care and the services within which they work in a cost-effective fashion. Workplace learning is an intrinsic component to these degrees. Taking a socio-cultural perspective, this paper examines how the students'…

Part-time students have accounted for a significant proportion of rising participation in higher education in many countries. The objectives of this paper are to enrich the empirical literature concerning the inclusion of part-time adult learners in higher education, and to assess the two competing theoretical frameworks that have emerged to…

Analysis of data from six years of the British Household Panel Survey (1998-2003) has been used to look at variances in take-up of part time learning opportunities by adults over time in the UK and, separately, by its four constituent nations. The paper provides a useful backdrop of "facts and figures" on patterns of take-up in part time…

Interviews with 53 part-time college students in Hong Kong indicated they felt greater affiliation with students and teachers than the department or university. Ways to cultivate a sense of belonging were identified: cohort learning, high-quality interactive teaching, and better access to resources and facilities. (SK)

A model of adult education dropout posits psychosocial, external, and institutional integration factors as causes. Testing with data from 443 Norwegian adult students (167 dropouts) demonstrated that factors related to interaction with the institution made a more substantial contribution to explaining attrition than did external systems theory.…

In Nigeria, 340 male and 160 female certified teachers studying for bachelor's degrees while working were surveyed. Primary motives for combining work and education were improvement of academic qualifications (85%), self-actualization (76%), effective job performance (58%), and job security (53%). (SK)

Responses from 29 part-time adult learners in Hong Kong regarding views of teacher support were classified as didactic/reproductive or facilitative/transformative. Differences between the groups related to student and teacher roles and responsibilities. Not all learners welcomed learner-centered approaches. A continuum emphasizing learners'…

A characteristic shared by the majority of adult students is that they are undertaking part-time study. For these adult learners one of the major difficulties is how to find time for their study. This paper reports the coping mechanisms that part-time adult students adopt to meet the additional demands that study puts on their existing commitments…

A West German study examined the demand for opportunities to study while working for people with vocational qualifications who desire academic qualifications. Three areas showed promise for minimizing existing inequalities: the vocational orientation of courses taken while working, the interest of unions and employers, and the support of…