Knowing Demographical Challenges of Adult Learners: A Vital Tool for Administrators in Managing Adult Learning Programmes in the Public Technical Universities of Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to investigate demographical challenges confronting part time management studies students at the Ho Technical University of Ghana and also ascertain how these demographical challenges affect these adult students. Coffield & Moseley (2022) indicated that now many educators want to create equal opportunities for adult learners in every social setting but stated that, despite this paradigm shift, much has not been achieved in policy formulation and implementation to include adult learners with demographical demands in the plans of tertiary institutions. The findings of the study will significantly, help stakeholders such as faculty, administrative and technical supporting staff in the development and implementation of the part time management studies programme of the Ho Technical University of Ghana once they have a better understanding of the demographical challenges of adult learners. The descriptive survey design was used for this study to gather information from a large sample of people relatively quickly and inexpensively. The design takes cognizance of both qualitative and quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected through the interview which was categorized and organized thematically in NVivo version 12 by QRS International. The quantitative data were generated by a questionnaire, summarized, and analyzed using the XLSTAT package. The findings of the study on the demographical challenges confirmed characteristics that played roles in either the participation or the success of adult learning activities. The result of the study showed that demographical challenges impeded the progress of adult learners in the part time management studies programme at the Ho Technical University of Ghana. The study recommends that administrators of this programme should create E-learning platforms with options of choosing from either regular sessions, sandwich programmes, or distance arrangements to make adult learners choose a session of the programme that may be suitable for them from the comfort of their offices, homes and to be done at their convenient times. The study also recommended that it is important that administrators of the programme train personnel and faculty of Ho Technical University on the practice of e-learning and adult education techniques to make it efficient and effective.