A lifelong educator refers to a field expert who undertakes various responsibilities related to lifelong education. As of 2021, 4.3% of those who obtained the lifelong educator qualification were employed in either the public or private sectors in rol...
A lifelong educator refers to a field expert who undertakes various responsibilities related to lifelong education. As of 2021, 4.3% of those who obtained the lifelong educator qualification were employed in either the public or private sectors in roles related to lifelong education, with most working as practitioners in the private sector. This study applies Cervero and Wilson’s 1994 theory in investigate how lifelong educators in the private sector plan and operate lifelong education programs in collaboration with government agencies, while simultaneously exploring the potential to refine and expand upon this theoretical framework.
To select cases of public-private partnership lifelong education programs, Organization A, a lifelong education institution established to operate such programs, was chosen as the research site. Four programs organized by Organization A were selected as case studies: Village activist, Net, Calligraphy, and Board Games.
To examine the process by which lifelong educators plan and implement programs, the researcher observed participants while supporting the implementation of the case programs. In addition, the researcher collected data through interviews with lifelong educators at Organization A, government official, instructors, and learners for each case. This multi-perspective approach enabled a comprehensive understanding of the work processes of lifelong educators and proved effective for analyzing the multifaceted nature of the negotiation process.
The collected data were analyzed using Cervero and Wilson’ concepts of power, interests, and negotiation. Rather than treating power and interests as isolated elements, this study used them to reveal the interaction between lifelong educators and their contexts by examining the symmetry of power relation and the alignment of interests, thereby highlighting the dynamics of their relationship.
The research finding indicate that the power relations experienced by lifelong educators at Organization A during program development and implementation could be structured into four categories: relationship within the organization, with government officials, with instructors, and with learners. Specifically, relationships within the organization were characterized by an interdependent dynamic between “I” and “We”. Those with government officials were distinguished by collaboration in execution and management. In interaction with instructors, complementary relationships were formed, involving the request and delivery of lectures. With learners, relationships took the form of service-oriented power relationships between providers and recipients.
When examining the interests of lifelong educators during the process of program planning and operation, it was found that within the organization, they experienced both personal growth-such that Organization A became integral to their lives-and burdensome workloads. Despite working together with government representatives to achieve a shared objective, differences in roles and positions led to diverging interests. Relationships with instructors were generally mutually beneficial, facilitation the delivery of high-quality program; however, discrepancies between expectations and reality sometimes resulted in misaligned interests. In ongoing relationships with learners, aligned interests were often observed, although the diversity of learners’ evaluations sometimes revealed both alignment and misalignment of interests. In addition, the interests of instructors and learners, as well as those of government officials and learners, formed a broader network that directly and indirectly impacted the work performance of lifelong educators.
Lifelong educators negotiate interest based on power relation, employing different negotiation strategies based on the symmetry of power and degree of interest alignment. In this study, these were classified as primary negotiation strategies according to Cervero and Wilson’s negotiation framework. Additionally, the educators’ professional expertise was introduced as a supplementary reference point, facilitating the further refinement and categorization of the negotiation strategies.
First, when power relations were symmetrical and interests aligned, lifelong educators employed a compliance strategy. This higher-level strategy includes two sub-strategies: the satisficing strategy, used when the educator possesses a high level of professional expertise, and the reversal strategy, adopted when professional expertise is limited. This finding extends Cervero and Wilson’s claim that satisficing occurs under conditions of symmetrical power and aligned interests by suggesting that it is most feasible when the lifelong educator possesses significant expertise.
Second, in cases of asymmetrical power relations but aligned interests, lifelong educators employed a networking strategy, corroborating Cervero and Wilson’s theory. However, this study found that the level of professional expertise influences the strategy type: when lifelong educators possessed high expertise, a proactive networking strategy was possible, while a self-interest-driven networking strategy tended to be used when expertise was low.
Third, when power relations were symmetrical but interests misaligned, lifelong educators employed a bargaining strategy, also supporting Cervero and Wilson’s claims. This study found that when lifelong educators possessed high professional expertise, effective bargaining was possible; however, when their expertise was limited, they often engaged in bargaining base on misjudgments.
Finally, under conditions of asymmetrical power relations and misaligned interests, lifelong educators employed a counteracting strategy. Those with high professional expertise used persuasion, while those with lower expertise adopted acceptance or avoidance strategies.
This study confirms that the negotiation strategies proposed by Cervero and Wilson serve as a useful tool for analyzing the work processes of lifelong educators and using it to further refine the negotiation strategies, the study offers a dynamic illustration of how lifelong educators engage with their working environments. These finding offer practical insights for the field by illustrating how professional expertise directly shapes lifelong educators’ work in actual practice.