Naslov
Lifelong learning development level in selected European countries: A perspective for improving statistical literacy

Autori
Dumičić, Ksenija ; Žmuk, Berislav

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
Web stranica konferencije / - , 2017, 1-1

Skup
Challenges and Innovations in Statistics Education, Multiplier Conference of PROCIVICSTAT, Szeged, Hungary, September 7-9, 2017

Mjesto i datum
Szeged, Mađarska, 07.09.2017. - 09.09.2017

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
cluster analysis, development level, descriptive statistics, European countries, lifelong learning

Sažetak
The higher the lifelong learning development level or the participation rate in education and training of adults in a country, the more persons are competitive on the labour market, and the greater the chance for a national economy to be more competitive. All these lead to higher development level in a country and to higher well-being level of citizens. Here the lifelong learning is defined as a participation rate in education and training of people aged from 25 to 64 years (Eurostat). In order to better understand this participation rate level, this phenomenon is observed from different views: by the gender, by the employment status, by the educational attainment level (primary, secondary, tertiary), and by the urbanisation degree (city, rural areas). Descriptive statistics analysis results revealed great disproportions in the participation rates in education and training between the European countries observed. In 33 European countries included, in average 11.4% of total population aged from 25 to 64 years participated in education and training in 2014. Only in Switzerland and Denmark more than 30% of total population aged from 25 to 64 years participated in education and training in 2014, whereas the lowest participation rate there is Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The average percentage of total population aged from 25 to 64 years which participated in education and training increase from 9.95% in 2006 to 11.41% in 2014. Because of missing data problem, two non- hierarchical cluster analysis approaches were conducted. In the first approach, countries for which data is missing are omitted whereas in the second approach variables with missing data are excluded. In both applied clustering approaches, the conducted cluster analyses resulted in three clusters of countries. The both clustering approaches have resulted with clusters with almost the same countries as the elements. In both clustering approaches there was no doubt which group of countries has the lowest economic development level. The conducted statistical tests shown that this group of countries also had the lowest lifelong learning development level. Despite of clear differences in lifelong learning development levels, countries in other two clusters have statistically the same economic development level. Consequently, the research hypothesis that the European countries with higher average lifelong learning development level have also higher average economic development level can be only partially accepted. As statistical literacy arose to be very crucial for better citizenship of individuals, it is imposed that the lifelong learning activities may include educational courses in that direction to the higher extent. If people should become more statistically literate, they needed to be taught to use statistics as evidence in the arguments encountered in their daily life as citizens, workers, consumers, patients, voters, etc., compare to Shield (2001). Therefore, the role of statistics educators becomes very responsible. The lifelong learning for improving statistical literacy is especially important for journalists and all those who influence the public opinion. All this seems to be quite important tasks and challenge for statistics educators, as well for those that organize such educational programs for all society segments.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

Napomena
Abstract online: http://www.eco.u-szeged.hu/english/research/conferences-workshops/challanges-and- innovations-in-statistics-education/program/program ; Power Point presentation online: http://www.eco.u-szeged.hu/english/research/conferences-workshops/challanges-and-innovations-in- statistics-education/presentations/dumicic-zmuk

POVEZANOST RADA