Adult learners in police and technology work in Finland: Andragogical features behind learning at work

Authors: Soila Lemmetty, Kaisu Hämäläinen and Kaija Collin
University of Eastern Finland and University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Edition: Volume 63, Number 3, November 2023

Introduction: As the learning needs of adults grow in the workplace and society, there is a need to understand the specificities of adult learning and how to support and guide adult learning at work. This article explores the applicability of andragogical theory to learning at work. The research seeks answers to the following question: What are the (individual and social) andragogical features behind learning at work? Two organisations – Finnish police and a technology organisation – participated in this study. Thematic interviews (N = 54) were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings showed that all the assumptions of andragogy were reflected in the data, but a substantial overlap existed in workplace learning situations. We identified three main themes describing the key andragogical features behind learning at work: benefit orientation, self-direction and experientiality. All the described key features showed both individual and social dimensions. The article presents these features in relation to different learning situations at work, as well, as showing the contributions of the study for andragogical theory.

Keywords: andragogy, adult learning, workplace learning, police organisation, technology organisation, qualitative research

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 63:3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.