Non-formal and informal learning conditions as experienced and perceived by technical staff and HR professionals

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to investigate what are the non-formal and informal learning conditions as these are experienced on a daily basis by technical staff and perceived by HR managers in the aviation sector in Lithuania. Qualitative empirical research using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with two HR managers and eight technical employees of the two largest Lithuanian aviation companies was conducted. The research results have revealed that, despite the fact that the learning conditions were rather favorable in the analyzed companies, there were certain gaps between the perceptions of the HR managers and the experiences of technical staff, especially as concerns the areas of high degree of exposure to changes and managerial responsibilities.

Keywords

• non-formal and informal learning
• aviation sector
• HR managers
• technical staff
• Lithuania