Intentions & motivations of the learner (Q26-31)

Given the well-established importance of upskilling and education for the recovery of Ireland’s economy, it is disappointing but not too surprising given widespread financial difficulties that the percentage of respondents who intended to enrol in a course over the next 12 months dropped from 87% in 2007 to 77% in 2008.

It is heartening however, to see that recognition of how necessary education and training are for career development remains as strong as ever. 70% of respondents believe is ‘essential’, up 4% for the same response last year.

There is an interesting development in responses to Question 28: ‘What would be your strongest reason for taking a course?’ In 2007, 16% cited ‘promotion reasons’ and 12% said ‘change career’ as their strongest reason. The 2008 Lifelong Learning Index has witnessed a change in these trends with just 9% selecting ‘promotion reasons’ and 23% seeking to change career. This could well be a symptom of the recession with promotion opportunities on the wane, and people seeking to start new careers with more secure prospects. ‘Learning new skills’ remains the greatest motivation with 43% selecting this option.

Part time learners in Ireland are a highly ambitious sector of society. Awards such as the Honours Degree (18%), Masters (29%) and Research PhD (14%) are the eventual academic goals for a majority of respondents.

Subject areas that poll strongly in Question 31 - ‘what subject area would you most like to take a course in?’ – include ‘Business Studies’ (15%), ‘Education’ (18%) and ‘Humanities & Social Sciences’ (19%). Education evidently remains a highly popular career despite the Government’s ongoing cutbacks in the area.