Non-employed people in the westpfalz region (Ger-many) as target group of continuing higher education – potentials of a regional demand-orientation

Abstract

It is stated that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and also continuing higher education has an influence on the development of a region. By focusing on the challenges and demands of the regional economy as well as its population, these data help to develop study programmes that meet these needs. In further education there is research suggesting that the identification and consideration of the demands of target groups helps to increase the attractiveness and participation in continuing higher education at HEIs. In this paper, the Westpfalz region (Germany) is considered as an example because it is known as structurally weak; particularly, the participation rate on further education in general, and the unemployment rate are below the national average there. For this purpose, a representative regional population survey was conducted. It describes the population of the Westpfalz region, their educational demands and it provides clues to the development of study programmes that meet their needs. The group of non-employed people stood out in this survey. In comparison with the employed group, it is astonishing that the non-employed people have a higher willingness to participate in continuing higher education. They also have more time to invest in study programmes. The paper shows interesting results of the population survey concerning the non-employed group. It also presents how these results can take up in the development of (regional) study programmes. At the end of the paper, it is reflected what potentials the demand-oriented development of continuing higher education programmes has for the regional development, which are comparable to the Westpfalz region.