DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE MODEL OF ADULT LEARNERS’ INTENTION TO CONTINUE LEARNING THROUGH VOCATIONAL COLLEGES IN NANNING, CHINA

บทคัดย่อ

This shift is especially evident among learners who return to vocational colleges to upgrade their qualifications or respond to changing workplace demands. Vocational colleges are therefore facing increasing pressure to meet learners’ evolving educational and professional needs. The objectives are: (1) to examine how learning motivation influences adult learners’ self-efficacy and intention to continue learning; (2) to investigate the effects of social support and subjective norms on the intention to continue learning; (3) to assess the impact of learning costs on learners’ willingness to continue learning; and (4) to identify practical strategies that can enhance adult learners’ participation in continuing education in Nanning’s vocational colleges. A mixed-methods approach was employed, yielding 413 valid questionnaires. Reliability and validity tests confirmed strong consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.8; KMO = 0.936; Bartlett’s p = 0.000). The research results were as follows: 1) Learning motivation had a significant positive effect on self-efficacy, which in turn strengthened learners’ continuous learning intention. 2) Social support and subjective norms both exerted significant positive influences on continuous learning intention. 3) Learning costs had a negative effect on learners’ willingness to continue learning. 4) The findings suggest that enhancing learning motivation and self-efficacy, expanding social support, and reducing financial and time-related pressures may help improve adult learners’ willingness to continue participating in vocational continuing education.