A Study On The Transitional Development Of Continuing Education In Colleges

The purpose of this study is to offer theoretical and practical help to promote the transitional development of continuing education in higher education institutions using theories and knowledge including modern pedagogy, lifelong education and management in the background of C hinese society transitioning. In order to find a scientific, effective and practical way for the transitional development of continuing education in higher education institutions, this study researc hes the historical development, the meaning and difficulties of continuing education in higher education institutions in the hope that this study could contribute to tackling problems arising in the process.This study is presented in six parts:In the first part, a review on research relevant to continuing education in higher education institutes is done, and the reason why the author chose to do this study, the meaning of this study and the outline of this study are also introduced. In addition, concepts like continuing education and continuing education in higher education institutions are introduced, the necessity of the transition in continuing education in higher education institutes is discussed, all of which offer theoretical supports for this study.The second part clarifies the urgency and the inevitability of the transitional development of the continuing education in higher education institutions through perspectives of the requirements of the society, the characteristics of continuing education and developing trend o f continuing education; besides, the benefits of the transition of continuing education in higher education are also discussed.The third part focuses on the essential elements of the transitions of continuing education in higher education institutions. In order to identify these elements, this study researches the main functions of the continuing education in higher education institutions through the lenses of lifelong education, harmonious society and human capital theory.The fourth part presents the findings of the survey and interviews, which were conducted during this research using the continuing education colleges of Jiangxi Normal University, South China University, Fujian Normal University, Harbin Normal University and Hebei Normal University as investigation subjects. And the survey and interviews are designed to research the current status of the transitional development of continuing education in higher education institutions and identify the problems in its development. Subsequently, the problems identified in the investigation and the causes of these problems are analyzed to serve the purpose of this study.In the fifth part, through four perspectives of the development idea, developmentpurpose, developmentapproaches and developmentdirection, this study conceived some suggestions aiming to assist the development of the continuing education in higher education institutions.The last part is comprised of a summery, conclusions, questions for further study and a closing statement.