Introduction

In August, 1993, National Kaohsiung Normal University established the Graduate Institute of Adult Education to offer a master's degree program aiming at responding to social changes, as well as to act in concert with national and world education policies. Furthermore, a doctoral program was launched in August 1999. In September of that same year, a Master's degree was established for in-service educators and administrators (MPIEA) to complete a full-range of graduate programs. In September, 2001, the Institute launched an In-Service Master’s Program of Organizational Development and Leadership (IMPODL) designed to cultivate leadership talent for the society. In September, 2004, MPIEA was ultimately transformed as the In-Service Master’s Program of Educational and Cultural Industry Development (IMPECID), which was merged into the Department of Business Management in 2011 to comply with the policy on educational total quantity control and the university’s overall development plan. The Institute, therefore, currently offers three programs: master and doctoral programs of adult education and the IMPODL program.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Institute is to incubate helmsmen/women who are devoted to lifelong learning in the society. The goals are: (1) to actively engage in adult education research and to help developing adult education professionals; (2) to integrate theory and practice in order to establish a comprehensive system of lifelong learning; (3) to help governments to formulate adult education policies; and (4) to provide people an alternate opportunity to continue their formal and non-formal education, thereby helping citizens to improve their quality of life.

Educational Goals and Core Capabilities

A. Doctoral Program of Adult Education:
The educational goal for the doctoral program is to develop education professionals capable of leading adult education research, educational enterprise development, and interdisciplinary integration.
Upon completion of the Ph.D. degree, graduates’ should have core competencies to conduct independent and innovative research, to utilize adult education theories, to develop adult education programs, and to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge effectively.

B. Master's Program of Adult Education
The educational goal for the master's program is to develop education professionals who are capable of teaching, outreach, and administration of adult education programs.
Upon completion of the M.A. degree, graduates’ should have core competencies in independent research, familiarity with adult education theories, and the ability to teach, as well as to plan, promote, and manage adult education programs.

C. The In-Service Master's Program of Organizational Development and Leadership (IMPODL)
The education goal for IMPODL is to provide individuals and members of organizations with the opportunity to grow and improve their competitiveness.
Upon completion of the program, graduates’ core capabilities should encompass organizational leadership and operation, human resource development, and analytical thinking and problem solving competencies.