Evidence-based support for the design and delivery of user-centred online public services.
Document 904
Population survey statistics
Population survey statistics
eLearning Chart 20: Barriers to participation in lifelong learning
eUSER population survey 2005
Chart 20: Barriers to participation in lifelong learning
| Does this make it difficult for you in your present phase in life to participate in training: | Overall sample |
|---|---|
| Prefer to spend free time doing things other than learning | 45.6 |
| Inconvenient times when training courses usually take place | 42.8 |
| Employer does not offer enough training* | 43.2 |
| Lack of good training offers locally** | 44.6 |
| Lack of information about available courses** | 35.8 |
| Having to pay the fees charged for courses** | 48.6 |
| Too much time taken up by work or family | 60.4 |
Base: persons interested in, or participating, in adult education; * Base: Only persons in employment; ** Base: Only persons who have looked for a training course in last 12 month
In order to allow a statement about the likelihood that eLearning will have a real impact on levels of participation in lifelong learning, it is necessary to take a look at the perceived barriers to engagement in adult education activities. Are the advantages of eLearning over traditional ways to learn really relevant for overcoming long-established barriers to participation in adult education?
Persons with a general interest in lifelong learning mention a number of factors which work as barriers. Time constraints stemming from work or family pressures are a common issue, as emphasised also by the OECD (2003). They affect almost two out of three persons interested or participating in adult education. Of course, in a situation of time scarcity the decision of how to spend time depends to a large extent on personal priorities. 46% of respondents mention that they prefer to spend their free time doing other things than learning - a finding that stresses the need for more training provided during work hours, but also the need for increasing awareness of learning being an enjoyable experience. 43% of persons in employment are affected by a lack of training provided by their company. Of special interest for the discussion about eLearning is the fact that 43% of all persons with a general interest in adult education complain that times of training courses offered on the market tend to be inconvenient for them. Moreover, the same percentage (45%) of persons who have looked for a training course report a lack of suitable offers available in their proximity. These observations indicate a potential interest in Internet-provided training, since most eLearning services offer time flexibility and access to diverse and high-quality learning content regardless of the location of the learner as main advantages over traditional ways of taking a training course.
