This study analyzed the old peoples' motivation for participation into lifelong
learning in higher education and suggested a model to encourage participation
by using the senior citizens' colleges. With the purpose of analyzing Korean
old people's participation into higher education, the study selected institutions
of lifelong education for old people in higher education as target
organizations for observation, and represented the literature review in relation
to old people's lifelong education. As a target group for analyzing attributes
of participation by old people into lifelong learning, 20 people above 60
years old were selected, who were enrolled in lifelong education centers at
universities or colleges. As the research methodology, a qualitative method
was chosen and the collected data were analyzed on the basis of ground
theory. As the result of in-depth interview, three attributes for old peoples'
participation into lifelong education centers or higher education were found.
The reasons why the target group for research participated in lifelong
learning was, first, to suffice themselves psychologically, second, to escape
from the feeling of isolation from the society, and third, to get help in their
daily life.