Lifelong Learning Strategies in Turkey/Izmir : The Purpose of Learning and Barriers to Women's Participation

Abstract: Lifelong learning has always been one of the most important concepts for the development and survival of humanity.  In today’s globalized world, innovations in communications and information technologies have brought global interconnectedness and economic competiveness. Knowledge becomes outdated at an ever-increasing rate. Technological changes demand continuous development of innovation, skills and knowledge of the labour force to maintain a competitive advantage in the international community. Gender often plays an important role in access to lifelong learning and educational opportunity. Women experience greater disadvantage than men do, in terms of lifelong learning. They are prevented from attending education by family responsibilities or conservative ideas. To face the challenges and barriers to female’s education are essential for social inclusion, independence, equality and the labour market in any country. Izmir is an interesting location to observe in terms of women’s perceptions of lifelong learning. Turkish women have a low participation rate in the labour market even though Turkey is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. In Turkey, socially constructed norms in the society decide the appropriate behaviour of the women and most of them are housewives. The controversy between secularism and Islamic values is another issue that provides challenges and barriers to women’s access to lifelong learning.The overall aim of this thesis is to provide an understanding of women’s role in lifelong learning in Izmir, Turkey. Societal barriers and challenges women are facing to gain access to education and the labour market are of special interest of this research In examining the complex issues of beliefs, attitudes and experiences affecting women’s participation in and access to lifelong learning in Izmir, demand a research strategy drawing on the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.  In the first phase, quantitative data collected in a cross-sectional survey will be analysed and further explained and elaborated in the second stage of the research through semi-structured interviews in a qualitative context. Finally, refined information from the two studies is observed simultaneously and the findings applied to the research question establishing their contribution to the objectives of the study.