DEL - Research into Removing Barriers to Learning

Tender description

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) wishes to appoint researchers to undertake a study which will : •explore adult perceptions to Further Education (FE) • examine perceived barriers to entry; •examine the extent to which ‘hobby and leisure’ courses provide a ‘hook’ for engagement and further study; and •scrutinise why some adult students ‘drop out’. Aim of research It has long been argued that lower level, non-accredited courses provide opportunities to help foster and reignite the desire to learn amongst adults. The aim of this research project will therefore be to quantify this view, by exploring attitudes to FE, identifying barriers to entry, identifying why people participate in FE and why they do not participate, identifying the reasons why people drop out or conversely why they are retained. It will also measure the importance of the so called softer outcomes and identify if ‘hobby and leisure’ provision provides people with a first step on the learning ladder.