PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT EDUCATION: GLOBAL TRENDS AND SOCIAL NEEDS
Abstract
The author has determined that adult education is a modern global trend driven by social needs, including the adaptation of the population to changes in the labour market, social transformations, the need to raise the general level of awareness, and the updating and acquisition of relevant competencies. An assessment of current trends in adult education has been carried out and priority areas for further development have been identified, taking into account the increased interest of businesses in training their employees and adapting them to technological changes and the digitalisation of the economy. Adult learning and education contribute to the enrichment of knowledge, develop abilities, take into account the needs and interests of participants in the educational process, enable people to live and work fully, and promote social mobility. The author has determined that adult education is a motivating factor, provides an opportunity to realise personal potential at different ages, ensures employment and self-fulfilment, and is a socio-psychological tool for engaging the population in active life, a space for the development of professional abilities and active citizenship. The author notes that more and more companies, especially large ones, are showing increased interest in cooperation in the field of adult education and employee adaptation to change through transformative adult learning, expanding knowledge and general awareness, critical thinking and rethinking one's own experience, which contributes to effective self-realisation in the workplace. The use of tools in adult education provides opportunities for employee training and retraining. Both aspects are important for the adaptation of the population and career growth, especially given the rapid pace of artificial intelligence adoption and job replacement. The author summarises that adult education initiatives promote motivation for lifelong learning, adaptation of the population to social changes and increasing the importance of the individual in society, which is particularly relevant for people who have changed their lives due to age, illness, migration, etc. The priority areas for the development of adult education include reducing barriers to adult learning and using flexible approaches and adapted programmes, combining learning with social activity, further intensifying cooperation with business and international partnerships.
Key words: adult education; adaptation; competencies; partnership; self-realisation.
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References
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References (translated and transliterated)
Lukianova, L. (2022). Osvita doroslykh: suspilna vidpovidalnist, investytsiia v maibutnie [Adult education: Social responsibility, investment in the future]. Novyi Kolehium, 1–2 (107), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.30837/nc.2022.1-2.14
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