The Role and Impact of Continuing Education on Rural Revitalization: A Case Study

Marilyn Miller

doi:10.21225/d5w01j

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a study that explored the role and impact of continuing education on rural revitalization. A community development approach, academic expertise, and a university’s resources were used to assist the citizens of Montmartre, Saskatchewan, to establish Centre 48, an arts and continuing education centre. Courses provided by Centre 48 gave townspeople and people from the surrounding area opportunities to explore new interests and to develop new social networks; in turn, the social capital gained by establishing and operating Centre 48 gave rise to new economic ventures. The results of this study illustrate how university continuing education units can contribute to capacity building in rural communities and how such social capital-building projects can serve as a catalyst for economic development.

Highlights

There are compelling reasons for examining the role and impact of continuing education on rural revitalization
A potential benefit of this research was the development of a partnership model that would be applicable to other communities where lack of access to continuing education programs is a common problem
It was hoped that the community of Montmartre, in particular, could use the results of this research in a practical way, since it would provide an overall assessment of Centre 48’s achievements and articulate its role in rural regeneration

Summary

Introduction

There are compelling reasons for examining the role and impact of continuing education on rural revitalization. In the case of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) at the University of Regina, in Saskatchewan, fostering rural revitalization fulfills the CCE’s vision to contribute to the intellectual, economic, social, and cultural development of the communities it serves. As the outreach arm of the University of Regina, the CCE offers accessible training and education programs to learners of all ages and builds on the strengths and resources available at both the community and university levels. The benefits of continuing education programming for personal and work-related reasons and for increased access to university resources are well documented. The role and impact of continuing education on rural revitalization is not. For McGivney (2000), recovering the concept of outreach by actively engaging communities is vital, especially if adult educators are to mitigate social exclusion and contribute to lifelong learning and community regeneration

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