Adult learners’ online distance learning experience in postgraduate business programme: a qualitative study in a public university in Malaysia

Wang Yunyan, Poh-Chuin Teo, Theresa C. F. Ho and Ong Choon Hee

Asia Pacific Business Review, 2025, vol. 31, issue 4, 593-617

Abstract: Amidst the growing demand for lifelong learning, higher education institutions are dynamically navigating the realm of online education, prompted by technological advances and global influences like the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is particularly attuned to the experiences of adult learners within virtual postgraduate programmes, focusing on the implications for business education. Employing purposive sampling, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 active adult learners enrolled in a postgraduate online distance learning business programme at a Malaysian public university. Rooted in grounded theory principles, the qualitative data analysis involved open and axial coding, bolstered by participant quotations, to unveil emergent themes and relationships from their experiences. The study delves into adult learners’ motivations, emotional states, self-development, effectiveness factors, and institutional recommendations. These insights shed light on refining the design, delivery, and impact of virtual education for adult learners in postgraduate business programmes, offering valuable contributions to the evolving landscape of lifelong learning.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/13602381.2024.2323045 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:apbizr:v:31:y:2025:i:4:p:593-617

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/FAPB20

DOI: 10.1080/13602381.2024.2323045

Access Statistics for this article

Asia Pacific Business Review is currently edited by Professor Chris Rowley and Malcolm Warner

More articles in Asia Pacific Business Review from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().