NEEDS AND OFFER ANALYSIS IN ADULT EDUCATION AS A PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION

Recently, there is a lot of talk about quick changes and rapid dynamics in the progress of knowledge as well as in the requirements in education. The core question that needs to be addressed while coping with these demands seems to be astonishing neglected in Germany, and in particular this applies to the issue of needs analysis and curriculum development. At the same time the decreasing number of students actively involved in further education shows that the process of needs analysis is far from satisfactory and the offer does not meet the expectations. In the paper, the authoresses discuss the complex character of the issue and present a pilot project, which deals both with the new theoretical approaches to the question of curriculum design and shows how they can be applied at the practical level. Meeting the expectations of students, satisfying particular requirements and creating appropriate learning opportunities involves a complex negotiation process. Particular contents areas are subjected to a thorough analysis of expectations, interests and the ability of the participants performed in cooperation with local partners. The general action plan developed on the basis of the analysis is at the next stage elaborated, linked with particular suggestions and translated into changes in the curriculum. The aim is to identify, interpret, classify and reflect upon particular stages in the process form the point of view of their arrangement and application and eventually generate efficient and transferable models.