Are Associations Important for Older People's Learning in the Community?

Abstract

Previous research in Slovenia has shown that older adults participating in organised education have higher levels of education, are wealthier, more often live in cities, and are very likely to be women. Additionally, research in Australia and some European countries reveals that older men rarely participating in organised educational activities. The aim of this article was to investigate the role of voluntary associations in the socialising and learning of older men in Slovenian communities. While researching the informal learning of older men in an urban municipality and two rural municipalities, we used quantitative and qualitative approaches. We have examined the situation of voluntary associations in selected municipalities in Slovenia. In selected voluntary associations, in which the majority of members were older men (case studies), we conducted semi-structured interviews and organised focus groups. The results showed that there are only a selected number of voluntary associations in which older men represent the majority of the members. While informal and incidental learning occurs in all voluntary associations, educational activities were only organised in a few VAs. Being a member in voluntary association is an opportunity for older men to stay connected with their peers, to meet with other generations and members of the local community, and to remain active and feel useful and respected. Membership in voluntary associations strengthens older men's social networks and positively affects their well-being. With the exception of research carried out by Golding et al., drawing attention to the specific needs of older men in education and learning, it appears that this group of potential participants in adult education is a 'forgotten' minority, so we suggest that it would be necessary to strengthen further research and discussion in this field.