Developing Adult Education: Why Do They Learn? / ITech content

This article will introduce you to the key aspects of the topic. We will examine in detail the main points that provide a deep understanding of the issue. We will analyze important factors and provide useful recommendations that will help you better navigate this area. Read on to get a complete picture and up-to-date information.

what is the proportion of adult Russians who undergo at least some training;
what is the "Matthew effect" in continuing education;
who is more likely to increase their salary as a result of training;
how the education market responds to challenges.

According to surveys, the majority of adult Russians realize the importance of education for professional and personal growth. However, only a small part of them see education as a way to increase income and improve the quality of life. Thus, a paradox arises: the need to study is recognized, but the real benefits of education are perceived by many as insignificant. This underscores the importance of raising awareness of the real benefits of acquiring knowledge and skills that can significantly change one's financial situation and living conditions.

The report "Make Yourself: What Adult Education Gives," presented at an open seminar at the HSE Institute of Education by researchers Natalia Karmaeva and Andrey Zakharov, analyzes the causes of the paradox associated with adult education. According to the scientists, only a small percentage of Russian adults who participate in educational programs actually convert the knowledge they gain into increased income. This underscores the importance of not only the accessibility of education, but also its practical applicability in real life, which can contribute to improving the financial situation of citizens.

How many adults study somewhere?

In recent years, the Russian EdTech market has demonstrated rapid growth, especially in the segment of online courses on professions. Even the events of 2022 have not changed this trend: despite the overall market decline, demand for IT courses continued to grow, allowing leading EdTech companies to increase their revenues for the year. This growth reflects growing interest in acquiring new skills and professional training, making online education in demand and relevant. Continuing education in Russia has not yet reached a widespread level, as only a small proportion of working citizens actively participate in it. Natalya Karmaeva noted the findings of previous studies, emphasizing the need to increase interest in continuing education among the population. Effective continuing education can contribute to the improvement of professional skills and increased competitiveness in the labor market.

Russian companies traditionally underinvest in human capital (simply put, employers underinvest in staff training);
Adults aged 25 to 35 are most involved in education, while after 35, interest in learning declines;
As of 2017, 27 to 32% of employed Russians participated in training—significantly less than in other countries.

Research confirms the opinion of the heads of leading EdTech companies about the significant problem of low engagement of Russian adults in various forms of education and self-development. At specialized conferences, it is often discussed that only a small portion of the adult audience actively participates in educational processes, and it is this audience that online schools compete for. However, attracting a wider group of people to education, including millions who do not believe in education or are unaware of the available opportunities, is proving to be a difficult task. This highlights the need to develop new strategies and approaches to promoting educational services to convince people of the value of knowledge and skills.

Photo: fizkes / Shutterstock

A very small group of adult learners is a specific category of people striving for learning and self-development. These learners may have diverse experiences and backgrounds, making their learning unique. Unlike traditional students, adult learners often have clear goals and motivation, which facilitates deeper understanding of the material.

It's important to consider that such a group can include people of different ages and backgrounds, which creates a favorable atmosphere for the exchange of experiences and ideas. Learning in small groups also promotes a more personal approach to each student, allowing for better adaptation of educational methods to their needs.

Thus, a very small group of adult learners represents a dynamic and effective community focused on developing skills and knowledge in various fields.

Who and how is the training conducted?

Working-age Russians are increasingly participating in educational courses, which is of interest not only to providers but also to employers. Many companies are beginning to recognize the existence of a skills gap, which manifests itself in a lack of necessary skills and qualifications among employees and applicants. This problem is particularly acute in the IT sector, where competency requirements are constantly growing. However, the question arises: to what extent are workers themselves willing to invest time and effort in training?

Natalia Karmaeva and Andrey Zakharov analyzed data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLM) conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) to determine the benefits Russians receive from supplementary education. The study, conducted annually since 1994, covers a sample of several thousand families across the country. Each survey includes over 10,000 participants, and the sample stability from year to year makes this a longitudinal study. The results obtained will help better understand the impact of supplementary education on the quality of life and economic well-being of the Russian population.

The analysis included data from surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019. All forms of supplementary education for adults were considered, including formal, non-formal, and informal learning. Both programs paid for by employers and those paid for by students themselves, as well as work-related and non-work-related training, were taken into account. The results on the prevalence of various forms of training confirmed the findings of previous studies in this area.

The most common type of adult learning is informal, unrelated (36.7%) or work-related (24.7%). This includes attending conferences and master classes, reading articles or blogs - that is, unstructured activities that are not based on an educational program and do not provide a formal qualification.
Only 4.7% of respondents were involved in formal education.
3.1% of respondents underwent informal education at their employer's expense, and 2% at their own expense. This meant various courses, including corporate training.
28.8% did not study at all.

Research shows that adults choose learning strategies based not only on current trends in the labor market, but also on their initial conditions. People without higher education most often turn to formal educational programs, which can be characterized as a compensatory strategy to compensate for deficiencies in basic education. At the same time, those with higher education prefer various forms of non-formal and informal learning, reflecting a cumulative strategy. This strategy allows them to expand their knowledge and skills, adapting to the changing requirements of the profession.

How Adults Benefit from Learning

A similar trend is observed in studies of adult learning: those whose new skills and knowledge build on their existing foundation benefit most from the educational process. Researchers describe this phenomenon as the "Matthew effect" of continuing education, where those who already possess a certain educational capital gain an advantage. In other words, the more a person learns, the more they gain from the process. This underscores the importance of prior preparation and accumulated experience for the successful acquisition of new knowledge.

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How does existing background affect the memorization of new knowledge? Background, including previous experience, knowledge, and skills, plays a key role in the learning process. It forms the foundation on which new knowledge is built. When a person encounters new information, they compare it with existing ideas and concepts, which significantly facilitates memorization and assimilation of the material.

People with a rich background in a particular field can perceive new ideas more quickly and effectively, as they can see connections between the old and the new. This allows not only to memorize information but also to apply it in practice. However, a lack of an appropriate background can hinder the learning process, as newcomers may have difficulty understanding the context and relating new knowledge to existing ones.

Thus, an existing background significantly influences the memorization and assimilation of new knowledge, forming stronger neural connections and facilitating the integration of new information into the existing knowledge system.

Continuing education for adults produces significant results, according to the Russian Model of Economic Development (RLMS). Participation in advanced training and retraining programs contributes not only to the development of professional skills but also to increased competitiveness in the labor market. Adult learners demonstrate improved career prospects, increased income, and increased job satisfaction. Furthermore, continuing education promotes personal growth and broadens horizons, which in turn has a positive impact on social activity and involvement in public processes. Thus, continuing education programs are an important tool for improving the quality of life and professional adaptation of adults.

First, everyone who has completed any type of training is more likely to be employed the following year than those who have not attended. Continuing education thus serves as a safety net against unemployment.
Second, wages also increase, but not for everyone. This effect is experienced primarily by those who have undergone informal training at the expense of their employer. The authors of the study suggest that wage increases serve as a means of retaining employees in whom funds have already been invested.

The study of subjective effects, which the researchers expected to find based on similar surveys in other countries, turned out to be more complex than expected. No current data could be found to evaluate them, and conclusions were based on outdated RLMS surveys conducted in 2010–2011.

Studies have shown that after completing the training, employees experienced increased satisfaction with their salary and career advancement opportunities, as well as improved self-efficacy. However, a more thorough analysis revealed that these improvements were observed primarily among respondents in high-ranking positions and with significant incomes.

Training course providers present their programs as an opportunity to change your life for the better. They claim that if you work as a taxi driver today, simply investing in training will soon significantly increase your income. However, in practice, it has been observed that the wrong categories of people enroll in such courses, and success may not be achieved by those who truly need help. Andrei Zakharov highlights this problem, pointing out the discrepancy between marketing promises and actual results. The current situation requires a rethinking of approaches to educational programs and a more thorough analysis of the target audience.

How the education market responds to challenges

These findings require further verification using more recent data. Participants in the discussion had additional questions about the study, in particular regarding the reflection of differences between industries in the report.

Photo: fizkes / Shutterstock

Nevertheless, the scientists' research raises several key questions that are important for the development The supplementary education market. These issues relate to the relevance of educational programs, the needs of target audiences, and the effectiveness of teaching methods. It is important to consider changes in demand for supplementary educational services and adapt courses to current trends and technologies. Thus, research can contribute to the creation of higher-quality and more in-demand educational content, which in turn will positively impact the development of the entire supplementary education sector.

How can students ensure that additional courses will be recognized by employers and translate into real income growth?
How can training developers ensure that users' course expectations are met and that they receive everything they need to achieve their career goals?

At a seminar dedicated to advances in corporate training and the EdTech industry, experts discussed the key challenges faced by students. Gennady Porosenkov, Head of Educational Projects at MTS.Theta, and Marina Kharakhordina, Head of the Methodology Department at Skillbox, shared their insights and approaches to improving the learning process. They focused on methods that help students achieve their goals and improve the effectiveness of the educational process.

Porosenkov shared information about the company's IT training system. In addition to open schools, where graduates can become MTS employees, the organization offers highly specialized courses that meet the specific needs of teams. Corporate IT training offers a mutually beneficial balance: the company invests in employee development, which increases their effectiveness, while employees, by developing their skills, gain opportunities for career advancement and salary increases. Given the shortage of mid-level specialists, this system proves stable, as companies benefit from developing professionals internally, as the labor market continues to lack developers with the necessary skills.

In the IT industry, employees are highly motivated to learn, and many large companies are willing to fund training for their employees. This creates favorable conditions for skill development, career advancement, and increased income. In other industries, this connection between training and career development is not always obvious. As Natalia Karmaeva noted at the seminar, employer support does not cover the self-employed and other forms of informal employment, which are becoming increasingly common in Russia. As a result, freelancers must manage their own training and professional development.

Marina Kharakhordina shared her observations about Skillbox students, who, unlike MTS.Theta course participants, are in a different situation. In most cases, students pay for their training themselves, not their employers. This is because they seek to transition to a new profession, not simply improve their skills in their current specialty. It is important to ensure that this audience develops truly relevant skills so that their training is effective and meets the demands of the modern labor market.

Skillbox introduced a new solution to educational challenges: non-linear courses, which were added to the platform in 2022. These course constructors significantly reduce the gap between educational practice and real-world work tasks. Each course module is linked to the tasks students will solve after employment. This approach ensures a deeper understanding of the material and preparation for real-world work conditions, making training more effective and relevant.

The informal adult education market is actively developing, adapting to the real needs of users. However, it faces a number of challenges. As Olga Rotar, a specialist in educational and methodological work at the Nizhny Novgorod campus of the Higher School of Economics, emphasized, the main difficulties in the supplementary online education market for adults are the lack of standards for assessing the quality of online programs and qualified experts, as well as an insufficiently developed system of interaction between various participants. Addressing these issues is key to improving the quality of education and increasing its accessibility for adult learners.

Unions and associations in the field of online education can be an important step in addressing pressing issues in this field. Their activities contribute to the improvement of the quality of educational programs, the exchange of experience, and the implementation of modern technologies. The creation of such communities not only allows for the unification of the efforts of various institutions but also for the establishment of cooperation between teachers and students. This, in turn, can lead to more effective teaching methods and increased accessibility of educational resources to a wider audience.

Developing Adult Education: Why Do They Learn? / ITech content

Contents:

How many adults study somewhere?

Who and how is the training conducted?

How Adults Benefit from Learning

How the education market responds to challenges