The phenomenon of non-formal adult education in scientific research of Ukrainian and foreign scientists

Abstract

Abstract: The article presents the results of studying the phenomenon of non-formal adult education as a modern trend of lifelong learning. The objective of the article is to study and summarize the approaches of Ukrainian and foreign scientists to the interpretation of non-formal adult education. The article includes a set of theoretical research methods: analysis, generalization, comparison and systematization. Active study of the issue in national and foreign scientific discourse has proven that non-formal education in the context of adapting educational systems to the realities of the 21st century is becoming the main social and political program for building society. The results of the study show that the scientific work considers the characterological features of non-formal adult education, the essence of the phenomenon itself in the research of Ukrainian and foreign scientists. Ukrainian scientists substantiate that non-formal adult education is an educational trend, and its relevance and social significance are constantly growing. It is noted that this issue has acquired particular importance in the conditions of martial law, when the need for the adult population to adapt to new socio-economic conditions is increasing. As a result, there is an orientation of the content of non-formal education courses, their directions and forms to meet the needs of the labor market of the certain region of the country. Foreign scientists interpret non-formal adult education as an integral part of continuous adult education, institutionalized and planned education, the main characteristics of which are its alternative or supplementary nature, which contributes to ensuring the right to access to education of any categories of the adult population. The generalization of scientific approaches of Ukrainian and foreign researchers to the role and essence of non-formal education in society made it possible to consider and to compare different definitions of the concept of non-formal adult education in Ukrainian and foreign scientific literature. The conclusion is made that non-formal adult education contributes to self-expression, self-actualization and self-development of the individual. These processes affect the formation of civil society, as well as the renewal of the labor market in accordance with its needs. Keywords: non-formal education, formal education, informal education, adult education, characterological features of non-formal education, phenomenon, civil society, labor market.