Title:

Higher education and non-traditional students. The strategies of universities in the context of resource dependence theory – implications for research

Creator:

Anielska, Agnieszka

Publisher:

Educational Research Institute

Date:

2017

Abstract:

For several decades now, there has been growing interest in lifelong learning, resulting in the increasing significance of adult education. This is creating major new challenges for higher education institutions – the growing importance of non-traditional students is forcing them to redefine their current strategies. The aim of this article, besides presenting the determinants of the processes that are occurring, is to indicate the usefulness of resource dependence theory in analysing the institutional activities (strategies) of higher education institutions in response to the growing importance of adult education. This theory explains organisational behaviour in the context of the dynamics of the external environment. It assumes that behaviour is shaped by the availability of external resources and defines the strengthening of relationships with external stakeholders as one of the strategies of gaining resources. Managing alumni relations will be discussed in the text, as this is a group of potential consumers of different forms of adult education.

Bibliographic citation:

Edukacja. 2017, 3 (142)

Subject and Keywords:

higher education ; lifelong learning ; adult education ; postgraduate studies ; resource dependence theory

Coverage:

21st century

Language:

pol

Rights:

Creative Commons BY 4.0

Resource Type:

article

ISSN:

0239-6858