New Horizons in Education

Abstract

This is an abridged report on an exploratory research project on the suitability of Andragogy and Action Learning approaches to management education for local adult learners. Adult learners of the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) taking hig her-lever courses in business and management were invited as respondents. The objectives were to find out respondents' predominant learning styles, learning preferences, motivation of study and possible influence of local Chinese culture which might have impact on the suitability of the two approaches and management education. The research findings revealed that the predominant learning styles and learning preferences were mainly the Reflector style and Reflective activities, compatible with the general e xpectation and stereotype of local Chinese learners as discussed elsewhere in various literature, local and overseas. It appeared that Chinese culture would have some impact on the learning styles of local learners. However, the preliminary attempt to est ablish a closer link/relationship between the local Chinese culture and the learning styles by using Hofstede's cultural framework and Honey and Mumford's learning styles typology was inconclusive. The study nevertheless did reveal that the Andragogy and Action Learning approaches were not very much in favour as most features of these approaches did not quite match the predominant learning style, predominant learning preferences or the most important motivation of study of the respondents.

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