Participation in learning: from an individual perspective

1. Participation in learning: from an individual perspective Dr Fiona Aldridge

2. “I hadn’t done anything in education since I left school. It was a really big thing to take on. You bring your family up and you get behind the thing that other people are doing. It was a chance to catch up and do something for me. But I was apprehensive.”

3. Some of the benefits of learning • Learning a language or brushing up on your maths skills in your spare time can boost your life satisfaction in the same way as a £750 a year pay rise. • People who take an adult learning course have better health, are less likely to be depressed and visit their GP less regularly. • Learning boosts self-confidence and raises people’s aspirations, with those taking part more likely to further their career and expect higher salaries. Source: Review and Update of Research into the Wider Benefits of Adult Learning, BIS, Nov 2012

4. ‘Learning can mean practising, studying or reading about something. It can also mean being taught, instructed or coached. This is so you can develop skills, knowledge, abilities or understanding of something. Learning can also be called education or training. You can do it regularly (each day or month) or you can do it for a short period of time. It can be full time, or part time, done at home, at work, or in another place like a college. Learning does not have to lead to a qualification. We are interested in any learning you have done, whether or not it was finished.’

5. Participation in learning, 1996-2012 Base: all respondents

6. Participation in learning – by socio-economic class, 2012 Base: all respondents

7. Participation in learning – by working status, 2012 Base: all respondents

8. Participation in learning – by age, 2012 Base: all respondents

9. Participation in learning – by terminal age of education, 2012 Base: all respondents

10. Future intentions to learn – by learning status, 2012 Base: all respondents

11. Why do adults learn? • 78% for work/career reasons; 21% for leisure/personal development • 29% to gain a recognised qualification • 26% to help in their current job • 24% to develop themselves as a person • 24% out of interest in the subject • 23% to get a paid job

12. Motivation for learning –not employed

13. What would make learning more attractive? • 22% of the learning related to something of interest • 18% if it led to a qualification which employers recognised • 17% if I could learn at home • 16% if my employer would pay the costs • 14% if I could learn at work • 39% Net: If learning was more convenient • 22% Net: if qualification was beneficial • 20% Net: if received help from employer • 11% Net: if received support from others

14. Learning for Work