성인학습자를 위한 평생교육 모델 연구 —배재대학교 평생교육융합학부 사례를 중심으로—

Abstract

Universities outside the metropolitan area in Korea are facing an unprecedented crisis due to a sharp decline in population and concentration in the metropolitan area. In particular, the gap in education and income caused by the uneven development of the Korean society’s territory is accelerating the disappearance of local universities. In this study, a plan to innovate universities into lifelong education platforms for coexistence between universities and regions was proposed. The rapid pace of technological development provides modern people with the imperative to continue learning throughout their lives, and in this era, local universities have the responsibility as higher education institutions to introduce the latest studies and technologies to the local population. Accordingly, universities need to have an Open Loop University-style education system targeting adult learners. This means that there is a need to transform the university’s education system, which was geared toward consumers in their early 20s, into an education system targeting adult learners of all ages. Methods for this were proposed, first, modularizing the curriculum at a micro level, second, establishing a work-study parallel system, third, opening university education online, and fourth, providing standardized basic liberal arts education. This means that university education must change in a way that allows consumers to complete it at the time they want and in the way they want. In addition, in order for this educational system to be established effectively, it was emphasized that a standardized educational system is needed to cultivate learners’ learning ability to a certain level. In addition, the addition of a flexible academic system such as the abolition of the number of years in school, the per-credit tuition system, and the prior learning experience system will serve as a further foundation for innovation in these universities. This proposal is significant in that it presents a new innovation plan for 116 대학교양교육연구 제9권 제1호(통권 제16호) universities that can coexist with the region, which is facing a recent crisis. Thereafter, it will be necessary to conduct follow-up research on cases of operation of departments exclusively for adult learners to derive specific ways for local universities to fulfill their roles in the era of regional disappearance.