| Unemployed participants in adult education | | Print | |
| Anna Walulik; Wit Pasierbek | 21.04.2010 | National Affairs - Articles [en] | ||||
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An analysis relating to adult participants in education and, in consequence, to those who do not participate, cannot be limited to the institutions undertaking this activity, but must also give consideration to the expectations and motivations of the people to whom the educational offer is addressed. Małopolskie Centrum Edukacji Współpracy i Doradztwa(the Małopolskie Education, Cooperation and Counselling Centre) is among the providers who have made an attempt to adopt this way of thinking about their educational offer. Established on the basis of experience gained during 15 years of working in conjunction with the Netherlands Management Cooperation Programme, the Centre has put together an offer which responds to the most crucial needs of the target users. The main area of activity is the organisation of training courses which will take into account not only the requirements of institutions, but also those of specific social groups.
An analysis relating to adult participants in education and, in consequence, to those who do not participate, cannot be limited to the institutions undertaking this activity, but must also give consideration to the expectations and motivations of the people to whom the educational offer is addressed. Małopolskie Centrum Edukacji Współpracy i Doradztwa (the Małopolskie Education, Cooperation and Counselling Centre) is amongst the providers who have made an attempt to adopt this way of thinking about their educational offer. Established on the basis of experience gained during fifteen years of working in conjunction with the Netherlands Management Cooperation Programme, the Centre has put together an offer which responds to the most crucial needs of the target users. The main area of activity is the organisation of training courses which will take into account not only the requirements of institutions, but also those of specific social groups. The Małopolskie Centrum Edukacji Współpracy i Doradztwa training course offer is directed towards providing knowledge and developing skills in connection with a functioning organisation and functioning within the organisation itself. The courses are intended for those who run organisations, management, the current and future employees of small and large companies and anyone for whom improving their qualifications constitutes an essential factor of their personal development. Course content is tailored to the individual requirements of the organisation and the participants. One of the means by which these assumptions are put into practice is the training methods. Based on the active work of all the participants, they facilitate full participation and maximise the effectiveness of the course. In 2009, more than a dozen courses and training sessions were run, covering Human Resources and Payroll, including computer skills; the Administrative and Office Employee, including computer skills; the Small Enterprise with a Qualifying Business Plan; the Specialist in Obtaining and Accounting for EU Funds; Financial Service for Small- and Medium-size Businesses, including computer skills; the Secretary, including English language skills, the Public Administration Official, including aspects of EU projects, Professional computer skills, with ECDL examination; Florist's skills, including elements of découpage; Assistant Hotel Worker, with English language skills, Professional care of the elderly, sick and disabled, with basic physiotherapy; and the Jobs Club course in self-development, creativity and actively seeking work. A noteworthy fact is that unemployed people, both women and men, of various ages and various educational levels, participated. In all, 298 unemployed people participated in the courses and training in 2009. The decided majority of them were women (202); there were 96 men. This may be a result of the type of training being offered and the social norms which dictate that gender is a determinant when choosing certain vocations and professions. In terms of educational levels, the number of unemployed people undertaking adult education in order to obtain additional qualifications breaks down as follows: - primary education = 19% - basic vocational education = 21% - secondary education (general and vocational) = 21% - post-secondary and post-Matura education = 23% - education to Batchelor's level = 10% - education to Master's level = 6%. From the foregoing data, it is evident that, at 44%, people educated to secondary level comprise an exceptionally large group. This may be evidence of the fact that education to this level has failed to provide its graduates with the knowledge, abilities and skills they need in order to find their feet in the realities of the jobs market. The high percentage indicator for people with a vocational education sends out a similar message. In the case of the latter, what may also be discussed is the fact that some of the vocations for which the graduates of vocational schools were educated have become outdated or been superseded. The breakdown by age of the unemployed people is as follows: - up to 24 years old = 26% - 25 – 34 years old = 30% - 35 – 44 years old = 23% - 45 – 50 years old = 13% - over 50 years old = 8%. Even though the data presented here make no pretence at generalisation, but serve as an illustration based on the example of one adult education centre, nonetheless, at that level it points to a rather disturbing regularity. It is young adults who constitute the largest group of unemployed people deciding to undertake education. This is an observation which could well stand as an inspiration to the organisers of adult education in Poland. In other words, in focussing intensively on a target age group of 45+ years, other groups that are in need of education and have decided to take part in it should not be overlooked. From the participants' point of view, the training merited a very positive evaluation. In terms of new knowledge attained, the average score was 4.96, with the lecturers and trainers receiving 4.82 and the centre 4.92 out of a maximum score of 5.0. However, despite their high rating of the knowledge they acquired, the participants who completed the training programmes see no chance of finding work without 'the right contacts'. The picture this gives is proof that, in constructing training programmes and courses, thought should be given to the need to equip the participants not only with substantive knowledge, but also with soft skills. This is an element so essential that, in both the evaluation questionnaires and private conversations with the organisers, the participants themselves make mention of it, placing a very high value on the relevant aspects of the training courses. |
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