Title: A study of adult learners' learning approaches and lifelong learning in universities in Malaysia and Taiwan

Authors: Lim Lee Ping; Ong Choon Hee; Wu Chi-Hua

Addresses: Faculty of Management, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia ' Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia ' Department of Creative Product Design, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan

Abstract: This study endeavours to examine adult learners' lifelong learning in Malaysia and Taiwan and provides avenues to promote lifelong learning by identifying their learning approaches and information literacy self-efficacy. Survey questionnaires were collected from 196 participants from Malaysia and Taiwan universities and analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. The study results showed there is a significant difference in the level of adult learners' lifelong learning and their learning approaches. In addition, the study results showed that the deep learning approach and career motive learning approach were positively associated with adult learners' lifelong learning. However, the surface learning approach was not related to adult learners' lifelong learning. Information literacy self-efficacy was found to be a quasi-moderator in the research model. The governments of both countries could use the findings of this study to establish roadmaps and blueprints on the enculturation of lifelong learning for Malaysia and Taiwan.

Keywords: lifelong learning; LL; deep learning; career motive learning; surface learning; information literacy self-efficacy; adult learners; Taiwan; Malaysia.

DOI: 10.1504/MEJM.2025.145892

Middle East Journal of Management, 2025 Vol.12 No.3, pp.307 - 329

Received: 18 Nov 2023
Accepted: 07 Feb 2024
Published online: 30 Apr 2025 *

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