Continuing Education in Regions with Population Decline (eBook)

Contents 5
List of Figures 8
1 Building a Supportive Learning Network for People in Peripheral Regions 12
1.1Project Objectives and Research Questions 16
1.2Concept and Methodology of the Study 18
2 Regional Profiles 20
2.1Region Liezen 20
2.1.1Population and Households 21
2.1.2Educational Attainment of the Population in Liezen 23
2.1.3Economic Structure and Labour Market 24
2.1.4Childcare Facilities and Formal Education Institutions 26
2.1.5Population Developments in the Municipalities in Liezen 27
2.2South-East Styria Region 34
2.2.1Population and Households 35
2.2.2Educational Attainment of the Population in Southeast Styria 37
2.2.3Economic Structure and Labour Market 38
2.2.4Childcare Facilities and Formal Educational Institutions 40
2.2.5Population Developments in the Municipalities of South-East Styria 42
2.3On Adult Education in the Regions of Southeast Styria and Liezen 46
2.3.1Participation in Further Education Activities in the Regions 48
2.3.2Further Education Offers in the Regions 50
3 Educational Conditions in the Regions of Liezen and Southeast Styria 54
4 Profile of the Styria Adult Education Center 61
4.1The Institutional Profile of the Adult Education Center 62
4.1.1Program Areas and Topic Structure 64
4.2VHS Steiermark—Structural Analysis 68
4.2.1Courses and Participation 68
4.2.2Supply and Demand in the Southeast Styria and Liezen Branches 70
4.2.2.1 Offer and Demand in the Branches Southeast Styria and Liezen Over Time 73
4.2.3Trainer Structure at the Volkshochschulen Southeast Styria and Liezen 74
4.3The Role of the Adult Education Centre in the Liezen 77
4.3.1Branches, Course Locations, Catchment Area 77
4.3.2To Participate in the VHS Offer in the Liezen Region 80
4.3.2.1 VHS Branch Offices in the Liezen Region 81
4.3.2.2 Subject Areas of the VHS Course Program 83
4.3.3Participant Structure 84
4.3.3.1 Gender 85
4.3.3.2 Age 87
4.3.3.3 Occupational Position 87
4.4The Role of the Adult Education Center in the Southeast Styria Region 90
4.4.1Branches, Course Locations, Catchment Area 90
4.4.2To Participate in the VHS Offer in the Southeast Styria Region 93
4.4.2.1 VHS Branches in the Southeast Styria Region 96
4.4.2.2 Subject Areas of the VHS Course Program 97
4.4.3Participant Structure 98
4.4.3.1 Gender 99
4.4.3.2 Age 101
4.4.3.3 Occupational Position 103
5 The Role of Adult Education Centers in the Regions of Liezen and Southeast Styria 105
6 Learning On-Site—Challenges and Opportunities from the Perspective of Regional Experts 110
6.1Regional Challenges 110
6.1.1Continuing Education Offer and Demand 111
6.1.2Accessibility and Mobility 114
6.1.3Accessibility to Information and Offers 116
6.1.4Awareness, Value and Interest 118
6.1.5Cooperation Gaps 123
6.2Regional Opportunities and Perspectives for Action 125
6.2.1Educate and Create Access 126
6.2.2Adaptation and Further Development of the Educational Offer 132
6.2.3Use of New Technologies 137
6.2.4Decentralization 140
6.2.5Networking and Cooperation 141
7 The Social and Regional Benefits of Adult Education Centers in the Districts of Liezen and Southeast Styria 145
References 153