Lifelong learners as digital citizens: Challenges and new learnings for adult learners in higher education

Abstract

This study explored the learning journeys of graduate students in an online master’s programme with the view to understand the challenges, successes, identities and distinct attributes they may bring to the programme. Historically the literature largely points to adult students being commonly portrayed only in terms of the challenges they may be experiencing in higher education settings. Arguably it may be an under–researched area as to whether adult learners may already be active online learners and digital citizens when they seek access to certain higher education programmes. The study, therefore, explored the kind of contribution adult learners bring to certain educational settings, the learnings adult learners may be seeking, and what they may be acquiring especially in terms of lifelong learning, online learning, and as digital citizens.