The purpose of this study is to extract the perception types of university students on lifelong education and to analyze the characteristics. For this study the following two research questions was set. First, what is the university students perceptio...
The purpose of this study is to extract the perception types of university students on lifelong education and to analyze the characteristics. For this study the following two research questions was set. First, what is the university students perception type of lifelong education? Second, what is the characteristics of each perception type of the university students on lifelong education?
The research was conducted according to the following procedures. First, the lifelong education perception frame was formed through constant comparison method on the literature analysis and the grounded theory method. In this process, 264 statements was extracted and the 53 statements that was arranged by implementing the open coding was selected as the first Q population. Second, an in-depth interview was done with two professors related to lifelong education and two university students who majors in lifelong education, and 92 statements was extracted. The extracted statements was compared and analyzed with the first Q population’s, synthesized the arranged 40 statements, and therefore the total 93 statements was selected as the Q population. Third, from the systematic sampling method the first Q sample was composed by the researcher. As a result, 42 statements that was judged as able to represent the perception framework of lifelong education was selected for the first Q sample. Later on, through the member check the feasibility of the first Q sample was examined, and the final 40 statements was selected as the Q sample according to the examined content that was modified and complemented. Fourth, through snowball sampling 35 university students in total were selected as P sample. Fifth, for the P sample the 40 statements that was selected by the Q sample was produced into cards and the Q sort was implemented. Sixth, in order to analyze the data of the Q sort, the PQMethod 2.35 program was used to execute the principal component factor analysis and the Varimax rotation method.
As the result of the study, the perception type that university students had on lifelong education was in 4 total, it was indicated as ‘integration of education through the whole lifetime importance type’, ‘self-satisfaction for individual happiness pursuit type’, ‘improvement of societal perception for equal opportunity emphasis type’, ‘learner customized education for opportunity consideration emphasis type.’ The analyzed characteristics of each types are as follows.
First, ‘integration of education through the whole lifetime importance type’ indicates that lifelong education should be for every person from the cradle to the grave and regardless of the gender and age, it is important to learn everything needed in life as a integration of education. Second, ‘self-satisfaction for individual happiness pursuit type’ means that lifelong education is perceived as enhancing the quality of life of individuals, pursue happiness, and as an opportunity for self-actualization. Third, ‘improvement of societal perception for equal opportunity emphasis type’ shows that lifelong education should be provided equally to every person, and perceives the need to improve the social perception of lifelong education by securing various lifelong education programs and through promotions and marketing. Fourth, ‘learner customized education for opportunity consideration emphasis type.’ indicates that lifelong education should be provided firstly to the social underprivileged, and perceives that professional personnel is needed to provide customized education in consideration of the learners characteristics.
This study came to the conclusion as follows. First, in consideration of the university student’s perception type of lifelong education, there is a need to discuss the concept and range of lifelong education. Second, the opportunity of lifelong education is the fundamental right for every person. Third, making the condition so people may participate in high quality lifelong education also has major influence in the perception of lifelong education.