Municipalities and adult education: ISMEK case

This study aims to understand how participation patterns and program areas in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Art and Vocational Training Courses (ISMEK), Turkey's most prominent municipal adult education institution, manifest in the neoliberal era. Data on ISMEK participants' demographics and program areas between 2019 and 2024 were analyzed for this aim. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data, organized into various tables using frequencies and percentages. Findings were discussed, considering the neoliberal transformation that affected all fields of education after 1980. Results revealed significant variety in vocational and technical education programs and higher participation in these programs from different demographic groups. As aimed in the neoliberal agenda, this indicates an educational orientation to serve to create the workforce demanded by the market rather than societal and personal growth. Also, higher female participation in the programs traditionally associated with women's interests and roles is a manifestation of the conservative function of neoliberalism in education. This study is expected to contribute to the research in municipal adult education activities, especially in today's Turkey, where municipalities are becoming increasingly involved in educational services.