1. Opportunities and barriers of adult education in disadvantageous social groups and underdeveloped regions Gábor Erdei Ph.D Gábor Erdei Ph.D University of Debrecen University of Debrecen

2. The circumstances of the birth of adult education The formation of adult education took place in the late 18. early 19. century The formation of adult education took place in the late 18. early 19. century Pluralism, heterogenety, shaping the citoyen society Pluralism, heterogenety, shaping the citoyen society Adult education has on the democratical aspects and features Adult education has on the democratical aspects and features

3. Philosophy of Adult Edcuation Five main philosophical mainstreams: Five main philosophical mainstreams: Humanistic Humanistic Liberal Liberal Behaviorist Behaviorist Progressiv Progressiv Radicalist Radicalist

4. Functions of adult education I. Objectives of adult education and learning Objectives of adult education and learning There are more functions than institutional types There are more functions than institutional types Types of functions (Belanger 1997, Siebert 1981, Lowe 1975, Urbanczyk 1965): Types of functions (Belanger 1997, Siebert 1981, Lowe 1975, Urbanczyk 1965): Compensation Compensation Integration Integration Adaptation Adaptation Substitutive/expletive Substitutive/expletive

5. Functions of adult education II. Political Political Democratization Democratization Problem solving Problem solving Dissemination Dissemination Information Information Active citizenship Active citizenship Developing individual skills Developing individual skills Culturelisation Culturelisation

6. Functions of adult education III. Professionalisation Professionalisation Orientation Orientation Value shaping Value shaping Further training Further training New knowledge New knowledge Complementary Complementary Etc. Etc.

7. Challaenges of education Quality of life – employobility – educational level and qualifications are stongly interconnected categories on the level of individuals, society and economy Quality of life – employobility – educational level and qualifications are stongly interconnected categories on the level of individuals, society and economy The big question: creating balance beetwen competition and social cohesion/social integration The big question: creating balance beetwen competition and social cohesion/social integration

8. Challenges of adult education Adult edcuation playes the role in the societies as ICT does Adult edcuation playes the role in the societies as ICT does „Matthew effect” (accumulated advantage) really exists in adult education „Matthew effect” (accumulated advantage) really exists in adult education Disadventageous situation reinforce the negativ elements of the situation Disadventageous situation reinforce the negativ elements of the situation More laborforce demand from the labor market does not mean automatically to have jobs for the disadvantageous groups More laborforce demand from the labor market does not mean automatically to have jobs for the disadvantageous groups

9. Grouping of the disadvantageous Limits on the labour market because of social status, family background and cirmunstances, and prejudice Limits on the labour market because of social status, family background and cirmunstances, and prejudice Family and social background is proper, the problem is with the personality Family and social background is proper, the problem is with the personality Disadvantageous by health Disadvantageous by health Being disadvantaged because of geographical location Being disadvantaged because of geographical location Partly or totally aggregations of the above mentioned factors Partly or totally aggregations of the above mentioned factors

10. Results of being disadvanted Lack of equal opportunities Lack of equal opportunities Hardship having a job Hardship having a job Situatiom of permanent under qualification Situatiom of permanent under qualification Learning difficulties Learning difficulties Life is always accompined by failure Life is always accompined by failure

11. Disadvantageous social groups Disadvantageous persons: whose opportunity on the labor market is worse than the average Disadvantageous persons: whose opportunity on the labor market is worse than the average Disadvantegous groups: Disadvantegous groups: Lower educated/ not finished Lower educated/ not finished Unempoyed/long term unemployed Unempoyed/long term unemployed Changed capabilities/handicapped Changed capabilities/handicapped Those who are on maternity benefit Those who are on maternity benefit More than 45 years old people More than 45 years old people Minorities, immigrants Minorities, immigrants Etc. Etc.

12. Reduction of social differences The phenomena is complex > the solutions should be complex also The phenomena is complex > the solutions should be complex also Tools which can be used: Tools which can be used: Social policy Social policy Policy of employment Policy of employment Policy of education Policy of education

13. What adult education can do and what can not Financing adult education is based on three pillars (state, employees, individuals) Financing adult education is based on three pillars (state, employees, individuals) Who can finance the learning activites of a social disadventageous person? Who can finance the learning activites of a social disadventageous person? There are some state sources for educating disadventagous people plus sources from the EU There are some state sources for educating disadventagous people plus sources from the EU In many situation not training/education is the solution (e.g. graduated young unemployed) In many situation not training/education is the solution (e.g. graduated young unemployed)

14. Adult education for disadvantagous social groups I. Problems: Problems: Analysis of the current situation: real needs from the labour market Analysis of the current situation: real needs from the labour market Guadiance and support during the training, helping the integration Guadiance and support during the training, helping the integration Fall into line with the challanges Fall into line with the challanges Success of the education Success of the education Follow-up Follow-up

15. Adult education for disadvantagous social groups II. Special group - special needs: Special group - special needs: Special traning materials Special traning materials Special teaching and learning methodology Special teaching and learning methodology Providing supporting services Providing supporting services Open labour market - protected labour market problem Open labour market - protected labour market problem More education does not automatically means more and better jobs More education does not automatically means more and better jobs

16. Adult education for disadvantageous social groups III. Adult education can: Adult education can: Re-train Re-train Further train Further train But AE has limits: can not solve all of the problems But AE has limits: can not solve all of the problems Employment policy Employment policy

17. Suggestions from empirical researches I. Education and training should focus on real labour market demand Education and training should focus on real labour market demand The objectives, the content and the requirements of tranings should be correspondent with the possibilities of the target group The objectives, the content and the requirements of tranings should be correspondent with the possibilities of the target group Flexibility in teaching, should rely on the students’ former learning experinces Flexibility in teaching, should rely on the students’ former learning experinces

18. Suggestions from empirical researches II. The teaching process should provide by institutes and experts, teachers who have experience dealing with special groups The teaching process should provide by institutes and experts, teachers who have experience dealing with special groups Traning modells should be as interactive as it is possible (cooperative and project lerning) Traning modells should be as interactive as it is possible (cooperative and project lerning) Group and individual learning support > trying to develop the autonom and autodidact learning Group and individual learning support > trying to develop the autonom and autodidact learning

19. Suggestions from empirical researches III. Besides the summative assessment, the diagnostical and personel evaluation also important Besides the summative assessment, the diagnostical and personel evaluation also important Try to find the labour market niche for the special groups Try to find the labour market niche for the special groups Focus - during the process of the education – on the vocational content personel developments and general knowledge, learning and social competencies are also important Focus - during the process of the education – on the vocational content personel developments and general knowledge, learning and social competencies are also important

20. Suggestions from empirical researches IV. There is a tension beetwen the official lenght of educational programs and the necessary time There is a tension beetwen the official lenght of educational programs and the necessary time Learners should clearly see the aim of the learning activties and the „destination” of the whole process Learners should clearly see the aim of the learning activties and the „destination” of the whole process Keeping the motivitaion is the biggest challenge Keeping the motivitaion is the biggest challenge Social conditions significantly influence the learning process of adults Social conditions significantly influence the learning process of adults

21. Problems of underdeveloped regions I. Situation of geographical disadvantageous: Situation of geographical disadvantageous: Remote places Remote places Regions for agriculture or the old industry Regions for agriculture or the old industry Small villages with very less inhabitants Small villages with very less inhabitants Accesibilty and connection is bad Accesibilty and connection is bad The structure of the society is not healthy (less youngsters, mand old citizens, less edcatad people, roma, immigrants etc.) The structure of the society is not healthy (less youngsters, mand old citizens, less edcatad people, roma, immigrants etc.) No investment and development on the condition of market No investment and development on the condition of market

22. Problems of underdeveloped regions II. These regions can not compite These regions can not compite

23. Challenges of adult education in underdeveloped regions I. Problems: Problems: Most of the adult education providers (especially profit oriented training companies) are far from these places Most of the adult education providers (especially profit oriented training companies) are far from these places Very few success stories of adult learning > adult education and learning not really seen as opportunity or tool Very few success stories of adult learning > adult education and learning not really seen as opportunity or tool No labour market demand No labour market demand The society is unflexible and inmobile The society is unflexible and inmobile Active citizenship is not a common phenomena Active citizenship is not a common phenomena

24. Challenges of adult education in underdeveloped regions II. Opportunities: Opportunities: There are lots of room for creative ideas There are lots of room for creative ideas To develop new type of education and training materials, methods To develop new type of education and training materials, methods Adult education and community development can strenghten each other (synergy) Adult education and community development can strenghten each other (synergy) Some good initiatives could reach great success in short time Some good initiatives could reach great success in short time Good example: social cooperative Good example: social cooperative

25. Thank you for your attention! erg@tigris.unideb.hu