Adult Education in Scotland – a Critical Analysis of Strategic and Policy

Research Article
Open access

Adult Education in Scotland – a Critical Analysis of Strategic and Policy

Huafeng Yu 1*
  • 1 Education, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Glasgow, UK    
  • *corresponding author 1213303468@qq.com
Published on 1 March 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/2/2022539
LNEP Vol.2
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-07-2
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-08-9

Abstract

The extent to which local governments attach importance, and implement relevant policies relating to, adult Learning can be understood as an integral part of the learning quality and living standard of human communities. Based on existing research on adult education, this study will use classic policy analysis to provide a perspective on the background, perceptions and challenges of adult Learning facing the Scottish Government. Secondary research shows that Scotland has a commitment to improving the right of everyone to high-quality learning to meet their lifelong needs. Because adult education provides formal learning opportunities for those who have completed compulsory schooling, it can equip adults with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to play a positive and productive role in personal, work, family and community life.

Keywords:

lifelong learning, policy analysis, Adult learning, scottish adult education policy, continuing education, adult education

Yu,H. (2023). Adult Education in Scotland – a Critical Analysis of Strategic and Policy. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,2,858-867.
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References

[1]. Atkinson, P.A. and Coffey, A. (1997). Analysing documentary realitiea In: Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: SAGE, pp.45–62.

[2]. Barton, D., Ivani , R., Appleby, Y., Hodge, R. & Tusting, K. (2007) Literacy, Lives and Learning, London: Routledge.

[3]. Boeren, E. (2011). Participation in adult education: a bounded agency approach. Leuven: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

[4]. Boeren, E. & SpringerLink (Online service) 2016, Lifelong learning participation in a changing policy context: an interdisciplinary theory, Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire;New York, NY;.

[5]. Bowen, G.A. 2009, "Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method", Qualitative research journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 27-40.

[6]. Chapman, J.D., Cartwright, P.J., McGilp, J. & SpringerLink (Online service) 2006, Lifelong learning, participation and equity, Springer, Dordrecht.

[7]. Colley, H., Hodkinson, P., & Malcolm, J. (2003). Informality and formality in learning. London: Learning and Skills Research Centre.

[8]. Cooke, A. 2006, From popular enlightenment to lifelong learning: a history of adult education in Scotland 1707-2005, NIACE, Leicester.

[9]. Courtney, S. (1992). Why do adults learn: towards a theory of participation in adult education. London: Routledge.

[10]. Creswell, J.W. (2014). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

[11]. Darkenwald, G. G., & Merriam, S. (1982). Adult education: foundations to practice. New York: Harper & Row.

[12]. Devine, T.M., (1999) The Scottish Nation 1700-2000, London: Penguin.

[13]. Duncan, R. (1992) 'Independent working class education and the formation of the Labour Colllege Movement in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, 1915-1922', in Duncan R. ans Mclvor, A.(eds.),Militant Workers. Labour and Class Conflict on the Clyde 1900-1950, Efinburgh: John Donald.

[14]. European Commission (2001) A Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, Brussels: European Commission.

[15]. Field, J. (2012). Is lifelong learning making a difference: Research-based evidence on the impact of adult learning. In D. Aspin, J. Chapman, K. Evans & R. Bagnall (Eds.), Second international handbook of lifelong learning., Dordrecht: Springer. .pp. 887–897.

[16]. Field, J. (2009) Lifelong learning in Scotland: cohesion, equity and participation, Scottish Educational Review, 41 (2): 4-19.

[17]. Field, J. (2015). Policies for Adult Learning in Scotland. In: Milana, M., Nesbit, T. (eds) Global Perspectives on Adult Education and Learning Policy. Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy. London:Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137388254_2 (Accessed 20 April 2022)

[18]. Field, J. (2005) Social Capital and Lifelong Learning, Bristol: Policy Press.

[19]. Foster, J. (1998)'Class', in Cooke, A.J. et al.(eds), Modern Scottish History 1707 to the present, Volume 2: The Modernisation of Scotland, 1850 to the Present, East Linton: Tuckwell Press.

[20]. Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (2018). Glasgow community learning and development strategic plan 2018–2021. https://glasgowcpp.org.uk/ChttpHandler.ashx?id=42691&p=0 (Accessed 18 April 2022)

[21]. Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (2012) Glasgow’s Single Outcome Agreement Annual Progress Report 2011/12. Glasgow: Glasgow City Council.

[22]. Hammond, C. & Feinstein, L. (2006) Are those who flourished at school healthier adults? What role for adult education: Research Report 17, London: Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning.

[23]. Holford, J., & Mohorc ic-Spolar, V. A. (2012). Neoliberal and inclusive themes in European lifelong learning policy. In S. Riddell, J. Markowitsch & E. Weedon (Eds.), Lifelong learning in Europe: equity and efficiency in the balance.,Bristol: Policy Press. pp. 39–61.

[24]. Jenkins, A., Vignoles, A., Wolf, A., & Galindo-Rueda, F. (2003). The determinants and labour market effects of lifelong learning. Applied Economics, 35, 1711–1721.

[25]. Learninglinkscotland.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: https://learninglinkscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Adult-Learning-Strategy-Draft-13-May-2021.pdf (Accessed 17 April 2022).

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[27]. Ministry of Reconstruction (1980 eidtion) The 1919 Report: Final and Interim Reports of the Adult Eduaction Committee, Nottingham: University of Nottingham.

[28]. National Records for Scotland (2018). Scotland’s population – The registrar general’s annual review of demographic trends annual report of the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages for Scotland (2017). Retrieved from https://nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/rgar/2017/rgar17.pdf (Accessed 15 April 2022)

[29]. Ormston, Rachel, Fiona Dobbie, Nicky Cleghorn, and Anna Davidson. 2007. “National Adult Learning Survey NALS (2005) Scotland Report.” Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Social Research - Scottsih Centre for Social Research.

[30]. Ormston, Rachel, Fiona Dobbie, Nicky Cleghorn, and Anna Davidson. 2007. “National Adult Learning Survey NALS (2005) Scotland Report.” Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Social Research - Scottsih Centre for Social Research.

[31]. Sabates, R., & Hammond, C. (2008). The impact of lifelong learning on happiness and well-being. Leicester: National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education.

[32]. Schuller, T., Preston, J., Hammond, C., Bassett-Grundy, A., & Bynner, J. (2004) The Benefits of Learning: the impacts of formal and informal education on social capital, health and family life, London: Routledge.

[33]. Scottish Education Department (1975) Adult Education: The College of Change. Report of a Committee of Inquiry under the Chairmanship of Prof. K.J.W. Alexander, Edinburgh: HMSO.

[34]. Scottish Government.2014a. “Adult Learning in Scotland. Statement of Ambition.” Edinburgh, May 2014.

[35]. Scottish Government.2014b. “Developing the Young Workforce. Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy.” Edinburgh, September 2014.

[36]. Scottish Education Department (1975) Adult Education: The Challenge of Change (Alexander Report). Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s Stationery Offifice.

[37]. Scottish Executive (2004) Working and Learning Together to Build Stronger Communities, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

[38]. Scottish Government (2011) Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering Our Ambitions for Post-16 Education. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

[39]. Scottish Government (2013) Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

[40]. Scottish Government (2007) Skills for Scotland: A lifelong skills strategy, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.

[41]. Scottish Government (2007) Skills for Scotland: A lifelong skills strategy, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.

[42]. Scottish Government (2016). The impacts of migrants and migration into Scotland. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e312/82dfed72eacb4fa4c0e425b34858051d8aa1.pdf (Accessed 16 April 2022)

[43]. Scottish Office Education Department (1992) The Education of Aldults in Scotland, Edinburgh: HMSO.

[44]. Slade, B. L. and Dickson, N. (2021) ‘Adult education and migration in Scotland: Policies and practices for inclusion’, Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 27(1), pp. 100–120. doi: 10.1177/1477971419896589.

[45]. Tett, L. (2006) Community Education, Lifelong Learning and Social Inclusion. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

[46]. Torres, C. A. (2013). Political sociology of adult education. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

[47]. UNESCO. (1979). Terminology of adult education. Paris: UNESCO.

[48]. Valentine, T., & Darkenwald, G. G. (1990). Deterrents to participation in adult education: profiles of potential learners. Adult Education Quarterly, 41(1), 29–42.

[49]. Weimer, D. L., & Vining, A. R. (2017). Policy analysis: Concepts and practice (Sixth ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

[50]. World Bank (2003). Lifelong learning in the global knowledge economy: challenges for developing countries. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

Cite this article

Yu,H. (2023). Adult Education in Scotland – a Critical Analysis of Strategic and Policy. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,2,858-867.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Educational Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries (ICEIPI 2022), Part I

ISBN：978-1-915371-07-2(Print) / 978-1-915371-08-9(Online)
Editor：Abdullah Laghari, Nasir Mahmood
Conference website: https://www.iceipi.org/
Conference date: 4 August 2022
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.2
ISSN：2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Atkinson, P.A. and Coffey, A. (1997). Analysing documentary realitiea In: Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: SAGE, pp.45–62.

[2]. Barton, D., Ivani , R., Appleby, Y., Hodge, R. & Tusting, K. (2007) Literacy, Lives and Learning, London: Routledge.

[3]. Boeren, E. (2011). Participation in adult education: a bounded agency approach. Leuven: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

[4]. Boeren, E. & SpringerLink (Online service) 2016, Lifelong learning participation in a changing policy context: an interdisciplinary theory, Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire;New York, NY;.

[5]. Bowen, G.A. 2009, "Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method", Qualitative research journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 27-40.

[6]. Chapman, J.D., Cartwright, P.J., McGilp, J. & SpringerLink (Online service) 2006, Lifelong learning, participation and equity, Springer, Dordrecht.

[7]. Colley, H., Hodkinson, P., & Malcolm, J. (2003). Informality and formality in learning. London: Learning and Skills Research Centre.

[8]. Cooke, A. 2006, From popular enlightenment to lifelong learning: a history of adult education in Scotland 1707-2005, NIACE, Leicester.

[9]. Courtney, S. (1992). Why do adults learn: towards a theory of participation in adult education. London: Routledge.

[10]. Creswell, J.W. (2014). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research.

[11]. Darkenwald, G. G., & Merriam, S. (1982). Adult education: foundations to practice. New York: Harper & Row.

[12]. Devine, T.M., (1999) The Scottish Nation 1700-2000, London: Penguin.

[13]. Duncan, R. (1992) 'Independent working class education and the formation of the Labour Colllege Movement in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, 1915-1922', in Duncan R. ans Mclvor, A.(eds.),Militant Workers. Labour and Class Conflict on the Clyde 1900-1950, Efinburgh: John Donald.

[14]. European Commission (2001) A Memorandum on Lifelong Learning, Brussels: European Commission.

[15]. Field, J. (2012). Is lifelong learning making a difference: Research-based evidence on the impact of adult learning. In D. Aspin, J. Chapman, K. Evans & R. Bagnall (Eds.), Second international handbook of lifelong learning., Dordrecht: Springer. .pp. 887–897.

[16]. Field, J. (2009) Lifelong learning in Scotland: cohesion, equity and participation, Scottish Educational Review, 41 (2): 4-19.

[17]. Field, J. (2015). Policies for Adult Learning in Scotland. In: Milana, M., Nesbit, T. (eds) Global Perspectives on Adult Education and Learning Policy. Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy. London:Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137388254_2 (Accessed 20 April 2022)

[18]. Field, J. (2005) Social Capital and Lifelong Learning, Bristol: Policy Press.

[19]. Foster, J. (1998)'Class', in Cooke, A.J. et al.(eds), Modern Scottish History 1707 to the present, Volume 2: The Modernisation of Scotland, 1850 to the Present, East Linton: Tuckwell Press.

[20]. Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (2018). Glasgow community learning and development strategic plan 2018–2021. https://glasgowcpp.org.uk/ChttpHandler.ashx?id=42691&p=0 (Accessed 18 April 2022)

[21]. Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (2012) Glasgow’s Single Outcome Agreement Annual Progress Report 2011/12. Glasgow: Glasgow City Council.

[22]. Hammond, C. & Feinstein, L. (2006) Are those who flourished at school healthier adults? What role for adult education: Research Report 17, London: Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning.

[23]. Holford, J., & Mohorc ic-Spolar, V. A. (2012). Neoliberal and inclusive themes in European lifelong learning policy. In S. Riddell, J. Markowitsch & E. Weedon (Eds.), Lifelong learning in Europe: equity and efficiency in the balance.,Bristol: Policy Press. pp. 39–61.

[24]. Jenkins, A., Vignoles, A., Wolf, A., & Galindo-Rueda, F. (2003). The determinants and labour market effects of lifelong learning. Applied Economics, 35, 1711–1721.

[25]. Learninglinkscotland.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: https://learninglinkscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Adult-Learning-Strategy-Draft-13-May-2021.pdf (Accessed 17 April 2022).

[26]. Mark, R 2013, From adult learning to lifelong learning in Scotland. in B T, H W, G D & K A (eds), Scottish Education: Referendum. 4th edn, Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, pp. 774-787.

[27]. Ministry of Reconstruction (1980 eidtion) The 1919 Report: Final and Interim Reports of the Adult Eduaction Committee, Nottingham: University of Nottingham.

[28]. National Records for Scotland (2018). Scotland’s population – The registrar general’s annual review of demographic trends annual report of the registrar general of births, deaths and marriages for Scotland (2017). Retrieved from https://nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/rgar/2017/rgar17.pdf (Accessed 15 April 2022)

[29]. Ormston, Rachel, Fiona Dobbie, Nicky Cleghorn, and Anna Davidson. 2007. “National Adult Learning Survey NALS (2005) Scotland Report.” Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Social Research - Scottsih Centre for Social Research.

[30]. Ormston, Rachel, Fiona Dobbie, Nicky Cleghorn, and Anna Davidson. 2007. “National Adult Learning Survey NALS (2005) Scotland Report.” Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Social Research - Scottsih Centre for Social Research.

[31]. Sabates, R., & Hammond, C. (2008). The impact of lifelong learning on happiness and well-being. Leicester: National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education.

[32]. Schuller, T., Preston, J., Hammond, C., Bassett-Grundy, A., & Bynner, J. (2004) The Benefits of Learning: the impacts of formal and informal education on social capital, health and family life, London: Routledge.

[33]. Scottish Education Department (1975) Adult Education: The College of Change. Report of a Committee of Inquiry under the Chairmanship of Prof. K.J.W. Alexander, Edinburgh: HMSO.

[34]. Scottish Government.2014a. “Adult Learning in Scotland. Statement of Ambition.” Edinburgh, May 2014.

[35]. Scottish Government.2014b. “Developing the Young Workforce. Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy.” Edinburgh, September 2014.

[36]. Scottish Education Department (1975) Adult Education: The Challenge of Change (Alexander Report). Edinburgh: Her Majesty’s Stationery Offifice.

[37]. Scottish Executive (2004) Working and Learning Together to Build Stronger Communities, Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.

[38]. Scottish Government (2011) Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering Our Ambitions for Post-16 Education. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

[39]. Scottish Government (2013) Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

[40]. Scottish Government (2007) Skills for Scotland: A lifelong skills strategy, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.

[41]. Scottish Government (2007) Skills for Scotland: A lifelong skills strategy, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government.

[42]. Scottish Government (2016). The impacts of migrants and migration into Scotland. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/e312/82dfed72eacb4fa4c0e425b34858051d8aa1.pdf (Accessed 16 April 2022)

[43]. Scottish Office Education Department (1992) The Education of Aldults in Scotland, Edinburgh: HMSO.

[44]. Slade, B. L. and Dickson, N. (2021) ‘Adult education and migration in Scotland: Policies and practices for inclusion’, Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 27(1), pp. 100–120. doi: 10.1177/1477971419896589.

[45]. Tett, L. (2006) Community Education, Lifelong Learning and Social Inclusion. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

[46]. Torres, C. A. (2013). Political sociology of adult education. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

[47]. UNESCO. (1979). Terminology of adult education. Paris: UNESCO.

[48]. Valentine, T., & Darkenwald, G. G. (1990). Deterrents to participation in adult education: profiles of potential learners. Adult Education Quarterly, 41(1), 29–42.

[49]. Weimer, D. L., & Vining, A. R. (2017). Policy analysis: Concepts and practice (Sixth ed.). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

[50]. World Bank (2003). Lifelong learning in the global knowledge economy: challenges for developing countries. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

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