Characteristics and experiences of Durban University of Technology adult part-time B.Tech somatology learners.
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Date
2006
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Abstract
The study focused on adult learners in the Bachelor of Technology: Somatology
degree (B. Tech) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). It served to
establish the characteristics and experiences of part-time, predominantly adult
women learners in order to facilitate their and future generations of formal higher
education life-long learners retention , throughput and success rates at DUT. This
is in response to national policy directives from the Department of Education and
communiques from various non-profit organisations (NPO's) and political groups .
The aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that
motivate, facilitate and detract from part-time learner's formal learning experience
in order for the Department of Somatology at DUT to consider ways to address
these needs.
A questionnaire and focus group discussion were used to acquire data from the
current cohort of B. Tech. Somatology learners. The taped discussion was
subsequently transcribed and the data obtained was analysed and interpreted by
means of thematic analysis. Three major themes that related to the literature, the
conceptual framework and the title of the study emerged as descriptions of the
adult women learners' characteristics and experiences within their communities,
their work and DUT.
The dissertation concluded with a summary of the findings which directly related
to the testimony of the adult learners' experiences as continuing formal higher
education part-time learners. Recommendations which were recognised as
facilitating successful lifelong learning in institutions of higher learning and which
could be adopted by DUT's academic and administrative sectors were suggested .
Description
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.
Keywords
Theses--Adult education., Adult learning.