Participation of Older Adults in Participation of Older Adults in

Lifelong Learning via Open and Lifelong Learning via Open and

Distance LearningDistance Learning

Prof Dr. Latifah Abdol Latif

&

Ng Man San

Objective of presentationObjective of presentation

•• To increase awareness for older adults to To increase awareness for older adults to

participate in lifelong learning participate in lifelong learning

•• To provide information about lifelong learning To provide information about lifelong learning

experiences of older adult learners in ODL experiences of older adult learners in ODL

institutionsinstitutions

Background Background

•• To attain successful ageing of older adults To attain successful ageing of older adults

–– by engaging them in upgrading of relevant skills and by engaging them in upgrading of relevant skills and knowledge knowledge

–– to continue participating in employment as long as they to continue participating in employment as long as they remain healthy, mentally active and productive.remain healthy, mentally active and productive.

•• Flexible study programmes are available for older Flexible study programmes are available for older adults in ODL institutionsadults in ODL institutions

•• Opportunity not fully taken up Opportunity not fully taken up

–– Eg. in OUM, only 800 out of 66,484 students (1.2%) Eg. in OUM, only 800 out of 66,484 students (1.2%) enrolled were 50 and above in May 2009enrolled were 50 and above in May 2009

–– Older adults not aware that they were eligibleOlder adults not aware that they were eligible

Demographic Profile of OUM Older Demographic Profile of OUM Older

Adults Student Adults Student

OUM Facilities for Older Adult OUM Facilities for Older Adult

Student ParticipationStudent Participation

•• Learning centres allow easy access to Learning centres allow easy access to

computers labs, digital library and interaction computers labs, digital library and interaction

with tutors and peerswith tutors and peers

•• Incentives for older adult learnersIncentives for older adult learners

–– 75% discount on course fees75% discount on course fees

•• Most popular programmes taken were Most popular programmes taken were

–– Bachelor Programmes Bachelor Programmes

–– PostPost--graduate programmes (Masters and PhD)graduate programmes (Masters and PhD)

•• Majority of older adult learners will eventually graduate Majority of older adult learners will eventually graduate with a university diploma or degree with a university diploma or degree

–– only 6% have high risk of not graduating with CGPA < 2only 6% have high risk of not graduating with CGPA < 2

•• Age has no bearing on adult learnersAge has no bearing on adult learners’’ academic academic performance performance

–– those aged 60 and above can perform academically as well as those aged 60 and above can perform academically as well as those aged 50those aged 50--59 years. 59 years.

–– Mean CGPA score for 50Mean CGPA score for 50--59 yrs is 2.9 ; 60yrs and over is 2.8 59 yrs is 2.9 ; 60yrs and over is 2.8

•• Female learners better academically than malesFemale learners better academically than males

Academic Profile of OUM Older Academic Profile of OUM Older

Adults StudentsAdults Students

•• Older adult learnersOlder adult learners’’ satisfaction level measured satisfaction level measured

by 5 point Likert Scaleby 5 point Likert Scale

–– 4.1 out of 5 4.1 out of 5

•• Evidence that older adult graduates are satisfied Evidence that older adult graduates are satisfied

with programmes offered by OUMwith programmes offered by OUM

Satisfaction Level of Older Adult Satisfaction Level of Older Adult

Students Students –– Tracer Study (OUM/MOHE)Tracer Study (OUM/MOHE)

•• Older adult graduates found that education Older adult graduates found that education experience has a positive influence on their way of experience has a positive influence on their way of life: life:

–– acquired good computer skillsacquired good computer skills

–– Improved general knowledgeImproved general knowledge

–– Increased their awareness of current affairs and Increased their awareness of current affairs and developmentdevelopment

–– Enhanced creative thinking capacityEnhanced creative thinking capacity

–– Developed self confidenceDeveloped self confidence

–– Enhanced interest to continue study and seek new Enhanced interest to continue study and seek new knowledgeknowledge

–– More communicative and improved problem solving skillsMore communicative and improved problem solving skills

Impact of education experience on Impact of education experience on

older adult graduatesolder adult graduates

•• 25% of the older adult graduates have enrolled 25% of the older adult graduates have enrolled

to pursue higher degrees in Masters and PhD to pursue higher degrees in Masters and PhD

levels.levels.

•• Main reasons:Main reasons:

–– Interest in improving knowledgeInterest in improving knowledge

–– Improving academic qualificationImproving academic qualification

–– Family encouragementFamily encouragement

–– Better job prospectsBetter job prospects

Learning experience has motivated older Learning experience has motivated older

adult learners to continue learningadult learners to continue learning

–– Provide picture of how older adults are doing in Provide picture of how older adults are doing in

lifelong learning and indirectly encourage others lifelong learning and indirectly encourage others

to do the sameto do the same

–– OUM will increase intake of older adultsOUM will increase intake of older adults

–– OUM will continue to develop and offer suitable OUM will continue to develop and offer suitable

and relevant programmes to retrain working and relevant programmes to retrain working

adultsadults

Summary and ConclusionSummary and Conclusion

THANK YOUTHANK YOU