Policies of adult education in Turkey and a conceptual model proposal

This study examines Turkey's adult education policies and aims to put forward the proposal of a conceptual model. The study is a mixed-method research in the form of exploratory sequential design. In qualitative phase of the research, by using the technique of semi-structured interview, data in the context of the problems of adult education and the features of a future-basis adult education system were gathered from administrators, teachers, master trainers and trainees, who take part in adult education system in Turkey. Data gathered were analysed using descriptive analysis and content analysis which are the techniques of qualitative data analyses. As a result of qualitative research related to Turkey's adult education system, there are some findings regarding the existence of some problems in policy and strategy, organisational structure and implementation dimensions, and the basic features of a future-based adult education system. In the first phase of the quantitative dimension of the research, the "Adult Education Analysis Scale for Trainers (YEAE)" and "Adult Education Analysis Scale for Trainees (YEAK)" were developed by the researcher. In the second phase of the quantitative dimension of the research; The scale was applied to 814 participants. T-test, MANOVA, Correlation and Regression analyses were used to analyse the quantitative data. The study concluded that there is a negative relationship between the number of courses attended by the trainees and their perceptions of the quality of adult education practices. In the last stage of the research, a future-based adult education system; A conceptual model proposal, called the "Adult Education Participation Model (YEK)", which includes the basic features of policy and strategy, organisational structure and practices, has been proposed.