Continuing Education as a Factor of Personality Socialization (in the Context of Austria’s Experience)

Abstract The article analyzes the concept “continuing education” determining its priorities and specifics as compared to other forms of learning. It is established that the subject of continuing vocational training is an adult who has acquired a certain life and professional experience. It is identified that the need for lifelong learning arises from the fact that to some extent an adult has knowledge and skills not sufficient to carry out their professional or other tasks. Self-motivation for new knowledge appears when facing complex problems, and when past experience does not allow solving them successfully. The specifics of lifelong education are connected with the psychological characteristics of an adult, namely: self-awareness of oneself as an independent personality with a critical view on any control attempts even if it not expressed verbally; the accumulation of a considerable life, social and professional experience that shapes the outlook, and in this respect creates a background for the evaluation of any incoming information; motivation for learning lies in a pragmatic approach – an adult seeks to solve their life problems with the help of learning (career, communication, leisure, etc). In contrast with a student or a pupil, an adult tries to apply the acquired knowledge as soon as possible or to obtain satisfaction from the learning process itself; their perception is invariably accompanied by an emotional evaluation of information when the brain attempts to “block” any information provoking negative emotions (even if it is just hunger, an uncomfortable sitting or stuffiness). Austria is pursuing the policy on continuing education, including several ministries and the Ministry of Education and Women’s Affairs. However, this kind of education is not free from shortcomings: for some adults, it is a way of organizing leisure: spending time usefully, having a rest from work, or the lack of learning goal awareness.