Adult learners aged 40--55 years: Needs fulfillment through higher education participation

Purpose. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the needs that adult students aged 40--55 aimed to fulfill by attending higher education institutions to achieve a degree or certificate. This study provides unique insight into the specified age demographic since the majority of previous research concentrated on a homogeneous adult group.;Methodology. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore the role of needs in the rising enrollment of adult students in the 40--55 age group. Phase 1 consisted of a quantitative survey followed by interviews in Phase 2. Each phase was analyzed separately and combined for a comprehensive view of adult learners' needs.;Findings. The results of the surveys and interviews indicated that career advancement, personal goals, and cognitive interest were primary reasons for attending higher education. Participants in this study have shown no signs of slowing down and are not contemplating retirement any time soon. This study confirms that middle-aged adults are goal-driven adults who have many more years to contribute to society and their organizations.;Conclusions. This study adds new findings to previous studies by focusing on a narrower age demographic. The findings suggested that older students are entering education for a multitude of reasons, having more similarity to those under the age of 40 than those in or nearing retirement. The participants in this study shared their experiences and goals for career advancement as their primary motivator for participation in education.;Recommendations. Further research with a larger and more geographically diverse sample using a range of age demographics could further validate the results of this study. It could be beneficial for future studies to break down the sampling by degree level or gender to determine if there are any differences in participant needs.