Reconstructing Self Through Learning: Adults' Learning Experience in Higher Education

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to explore how adults' participation in higher education affected their lives, especially in constructing or reconstructing themselves. The study shared results from in-depth interviews with 14 adults of ages beyond 25 who were attending higher education institutions.
Adults' learning experience in higher education enabled them to work on their identity in relationship to others; it gave them a sense of empowerment of themselves. The noticeable change the adult learners felt was an increased awareness; a better interaction with others, a growing self confidence and activeness. Moreover, the adult learners were able to free themselves from being passive. They gained autonomy in the learning process and in their future life direction. As they became able to give their own meaning to the learning process and found their own values in it, they developed into more autonomous learners who regarded their learning as a lifelong process.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of this study was to explore how adults' participation in higher education affected their lives, especially in constructing or reconstructing themselves. The study shared results from in-depth interviews with 14 adults of ages beyond 25 who were attending higher education institutions.
Adults' learning experience in higher education enabled them to work on their identity in relationship to others; it gave them a sense of empowerment of themselves. The noticeable change the adult learners felt was an increased awareness; a better interaction with others, a growing self confidence and activeness. Moreover, the adult learners were able to free themselves from being passive. They gained autonomy in the learning process and in their future life direction. As they became able to give their own meaning to the learning process and found their own values in it, they developed into more autonomous learners who regarded their learning as a lifelong process.

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