Reconsidering Open and Distance Higher Education: A Life-History Analysis of Adult Learners in Korea National Open University

摘要: Adults who enter or re-enter Korea National Open University (KNOU) with a prior major break in their formal involvement learning tend to seek focused course of academic study, advanced knowledge, and the subsequent awarding degree, certificate, credential that reflects specialized knowledge expertise. This research draws upon life-history analysis investigate KNOU students’ pre-institutional experiences exclusion alienation education society relation current motivations attend open distance higher education. The participants’ life stories illuminate how Korean social cultural barriers prevented them from educational progress, as well what motivated adults. Each participant’s history describes actual phenomenon at individual level; this study also implies sociocultural discrimination impacted each life. Given critical viewpoints incompatible roles plays society, argues positive function education, which is widely taken for granted, needs be reconsidered national approach adults may reinforce highly affected by credentials.