Investigation of Adult Education Program Planning From a Power and Interest Perspective: A Case Study of a Transnational Ph.D. Cohort Program

Abstract

 Program planning is the major channel currently utilized to achieve excellent standards in adult educational practice. Through well-planned programs, adult education policies can be implemented, organizational goals can be realized, learners’ behaviors can be positively altered, and their abilities enhanced. It is worth emphasizing that traditional models of program planning applying linear paths do not explain a multitude of situations that occur in reality. This is largely due to the fact that linear models generally ignore the role and influence of political factors in the program planning processes. Centered on the perspective of power and interest negotiation in program planning and utilizing a case study approach, this study investigated and analyzed the program planning processes of a Ph.D. Cohort program in an American university in Taiwan. In addition to transforming the power and interest negotiation perspective into a diagram to interpret the case, four new discoveries were made. Firstly, interests should be further divided into tangible and intangible interests. Secondly, timing was found to be an additional factor that influences various stakeholders in the program planning process. Thirdly, stakeholders of “invisible” intangible interests may influence the program-planning process. Finally, the degree of power was determined to be the major impact factor in the program planning process.