A study on lifelong learning and higher education reform: Macao perspectives

This study investigates how senior academics involved with Macao's continuing education conceptualise their field of interest in order to ascertain whether there is a fit between the provision and implementation of higher education and the needs of adult learners in Macao, within the context of a lifelong learning approach.

The study scope included three selected higher education institutions in Macao, and their accredited and non-accredited degree and professional training programs, as well as short courses. These higher education institutions were the University of Macau (UMAC), the Macau Polytechnic Institute (MPI), and the Macao University of Science and Technology (MUST). They were selected because they comprised the highest number of student enrolments.

Senior academics of these institutions who were considered to possess significant knowledge about the institutions and adult education were invited to participate in the research. Twenty-five participated in the research via face-to-face semi-structured interviews; an interview schedule was employed to guide the interview. The data was then examined for themes of relevance to the study's purpose. Also, the frequencies of responses to specific interview questions were examined.

These data showed that senior academics in Macao's three higher education institutions believed that the fit between adult education provision and the needs of adult learners is tenuous. It appears inevitable that changes will need to be made to the three selected higher education institutions (as well as the continuing education system of Macao) in order to respond to these unmet demands and for Macao to compete effectively in the continuing adult education market. Five categories of recommendations are given based on these data, including recommendation on (1) regulations and policies; (2) sources of funding; (3) accreditation of adult education or lifelong learning programs; (4) professionalism of practitioners; and (5) teaching materials.