| Summary: | The Continuing Education Fund (CEF) was established by the Hong Kong Government in 2002 to assist the people of Hong Kong in acquiring new knowledge and skills, to enhance their competitiveness in the global labour market and ultimately to become adaptable lifelong learners. This study aims to determine in what ways the CEF affects adult learners studying the Principles of Marketing (POM) course at a tertiary institute in Hong Kong. It focuses on the programme’s impact on student motivation and course outcomes. The research also seeks to understand whether the programme increases the likelihood that participants will take part in lifelong learning when the funding ends.
Drawing on a literature review on andragogy and related theories of motivation, two surveys were distributed to a tertiary education class composed of both CEF participants and non-CEF participants. The research compared demographic data and learning outcomes between the two groups; a subset of students was interviewed to obtain more in-depth feedback and comments about the impact of the CEF programme, and suggestions for its development. The study discovered that students who had applied for the CEF outperformed their peers in terms of academic performance and participation rates and are more likely to pursue further education after completion of the programme. It also shows the root cause to be the economic incentive scheme within the fund, as motivational factors of learning between the CEF participants and the non-CEF participants were broadly similar.
The study concludes that the CEF programme has a net positive effect on the tertiary landscape in Hong Kong, particularly for those currently applying to the fund. An increase in the CEF endowment can be expected to generate corresponding positive effects on the adult workforce in Hong Kong. Further research is recommended to determine the most effective scheme by which to advance the CEF programme in the long run.
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