Between meaning, efficiency, and qualification

A Q study on perspectives in continuing education

Abstract

Continuing education has long been a core element of our fast-paced postmodern world of work and life. Its main purpose is to enable lifelong adaptation, further development, and supplementation of existing skills. However, this means that continuing education must also be constantly renewed, evaluated, and adapted to the requirements of an ever-changing reality. The factors that are decisive in the decision to enroll in a continuing education course and the expectations placed on courses in terms of content, organization, and didactics are the subject of a study by PHDL. Based on William Stephenson's Q method, various perspectives of continuing education students are identified with regard to their expectations, motives, challenges, etc. in relation to continuing education courses, and thus also decisive and significant factors for successful continuing education. The findings should contribute to developing a more differentiated understanding of the heterogeneous target group of continuing education students in order to better tailor offerings to their different needs and thus make continuing education “fit for the future.” The results provide a differentiated picture of varying approaches to continuing education, ranging from high intrinsic motivation to a more pragmatic view, from high commitment and time investment to a very efficiency-oriented approach, and from approval or rejection of discussion and exchange as well as online teaching.