Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the educational interests and motivations of the learners in Australian Universities of the Third Age (U3A) and the Chinese Universities for the Aged (UA). A questionnaire was administered to the educational providers (U3A and UA) to identify the students’ preferred subjects, and another questionnaire was administered to individual learners to understand their motives for enrollment. Similarities and differences in the interests and motivations exist between the Australian and Chinese older adult learners. The U3A members have a very strong tendency to be learning oriented, to be interested in expressive education, to favour self-directed learning, and to have expressive drive to participate in the U3A classes. Though the UA learners are more goal-oriented, instrumentally motivated and cling to traditional school format, they prefer both expressive and instrumental learning activities.
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Picton, C., Yuen, C. Educational interests and motivations of older adult learners: A comparative study between Australia and China. Ageing Int. 24, 24–45 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-998-1003-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-998-1003-z