Retirees and lifelong learning

Abstract

This research intended to comprehend the meaning of “formação” (professional development) done by retirees after their retirement. They belong to a volunteers literacy group for young and adult people of a citizenship committee from Belo Horizonte. This group is constituted by 29 participants with 25 women and 4 men. In order to perform this research, theoretical constructions from “Lifelong learning” were used and the main references were Meirieu (2005), Lima (2007) and Tomasi and Ferreira (2013). A descriptive research was done using qualitative approach and the procedures to collect data were applying a questionnaire to the 29 participants and a semi-structured personal interview with a sample of 6 people that replied the questionnaire. Data was processed according to the contents analysis technique and the most relevant topics were grouped in categories and subcategories of analysis. Six categories were identified: 1: Professional development before retirement; 2: Professional development for retirement; 3. Professional development after retirement; 4: Professional development project to the future; 5: Difference between Professional development before and after retirement. Other recurrent topics among interviewees were observed during analysis, so the 6th category was created: 6: Other aspects presented about retirement. It was found that retirees are interested and look for Professional development activities, even after retirement. There were varied types of activities among the most mentioned ones such as graduation, master’s, language courses, complementary therapies, dancing, singing, musical instruments, tailoring and sewing, volunteer activities, etc. The meaning of Professional development for them is to keep learning in life and for their lives, expanding their view of the world, coming back to their dreams that did not come true while they were working or that were planned to their current life stage. Results pointed out to a profile of more active and dynamic retirees who value their Professional development path. Now that they have more autonomy to make their own choices according to their interests and desires, they continue both their personal and professional formation path. There is some evidence that the concept of retirement as “withdrawing into seclusion” and “inactivity” is being changed to a more active life of people who participate in Professional development and socialization activities, and seek to enjoy their longevity with more autonomy. This research contributed to progress of studies about retirement and lifelong learning and it might also bring new thoughts on that subject. It should be noted that this study chose a single field of activity, employees of a financial institution, most of them living in a capital, Belo Horizonte and its metropolitan region, they have a good academic and professional formation and are middle class. Therefore, for future studies it is suggested to expand it to other social classes, specially the less economically and socially favoured classes with less or none school education, and also other professional categories and other Brazilian regions.