Experiences of part time education (Q1-13)

Despite the ever-deepening recession, it appears that the Irish public’s appetite for personal and professional development through training and part time education remains undimmed. Indeed there has been a slight growth in participation with 77% of respondents having taken part in a course, compared with 75% in 2007.

Not surprisingly given current economic circumstances, money is the most common barrier to lifelong learning with one third of our respondents citing it as a difficulty. Sources of course fee payment has remained roughly in line with last year’s findings, with still over one half of one respondents paying with their own money. There is a small but encouraging rise in the number of people availing of government funding, with 7% more receiving support from government grants or agencies.

The fall in respondents naming their employer as the source of fee payment from 22% in 2007 to 18% in 2008 is a disappointing development, and is a possible reflection of the tightening of training budgets with the onset of recession. Numerous government bodies and industry experts have repeatedly emphasised how continuous professional development and upskilling can be key to survival in these stringent times.

The 2008 Lifelong Learning Index reveals a great depth of appreciation for the benefits of adult education. Nearly 60% of respondents feel that education contributes to ‘soft skills’ such as public speaking and problem solving ‘a lot’ or, on a more emphatic level, that it is ‘vital for personal development’.

The variety of ways that lifelong learning has benefited our respondents is also noteworthy. Besides the expected and hugely important benefit of ‘improved job prospects’ (57%), learners also reported a great deal of social advantages such as ‘social interactions’ (36%), ‘understanding of other cultures’ (20%), ‘increased awareness of political or community issues’ (22%), and ‘increased interest in volunteering’ (16%). All of which emphasises the importance of lifelong learning not just for the wellbeing of the Irish economy, but also the wider community as a whole.