TITLE:
Knowing Demographical Challenges of Adult Learners: A Vital Tool for Administrators in Managing Adult Learning Programmes in the Public Technical Universities of Ghana
AUTHORS:
Ivy Florence Damalie, Prosper Agbanu, Peace Fiadzomor, Gyamerah Wilson
KEYWORDS:
Adult, Learners, Faculty, E-Learning
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.11 No.4,
April
27,
2023
ABSTRACT: This study sought to investigate demographical
challenges confronting part time management studies students at the Ho
Technical University of Ghana and also ascertain how these demographical
challenges affect these adult students. Coffield & Moseley (2022) indicated that now many educators want to create equal opportunities for adult
learners in every social setting but stated that, despite this paradigm shift,
much has not been achieved in policy formulation and implementation to include
adult learners with demographical demands in the plans of tertiary
institutions. The findings of the study will significantly, help stakeholders
such as faculty, administrative and technical supporting staff in the
development and implementation of the part time
management studies programme of the Ho Technical University of Ghana once they have a better understanding of the
demographical challenges of adult learners. The descriptive survey
design was used for this study to gather information from a large sample of
people relatively quickly and inexpensively. The design takes cognizance of
both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected
through the interview which was categorized and organized thematically in NVivo
version 12 by QRS International. The quantitative data were generated by a
questionnaire, summarized, and analyzed using the XLSTAT package. The findings
of the study on the demographical challenges confirmed characteristics that
played roles in either the participation or the success of adult learning
activities. The result of the study showed that demographical challenges
impeded the progress of adult learners in the part time management studies
programme at the Ho Technical University of Ghana. The study recommends that
administrators of this programme should create E-learning platforms with
options of choosing from either regular sessions, sandwich programmes, or
distance arrangements to make adult learners choose a session of the programme
that may be suitable for them from the comfort of their offices, homes and to
be done at their convenient times. The study also recommended that it is
important that administrators of the programme train personnel and faculty of
Ho Technical University on the practice of e-learning and adult education
techniques to make it efficient and effective.