Renata Čepić

Through lifelong learning and learning organisations towards sustainable future

The objective of this paper is to investigate and analyse characteristics of constant changes higher education institutions are faced with in their operation and the concept of the learning organisation as an adequate response to changes covering the area of higher education. The paper finds that lifelong learning and becoming the learning organisation are the key factors in the process of implementing many changes these institutions need to undertake in order to fit into contemporary developments successfully. The findings reflect the way to adequately answer actual requests posed to higher education institutions, particularly the empowerment of their partnership with economy.

Are There Any Differences in Personality Traits and Life Satisfaction Between Future Preschool and Primary School Teachers

ABSTRACT The main aim of this study was to examine personality traits and life satisfaction of future preschool and primary school teachers and to examine if there are differences between these two groups of students. The study was conducted on a sample of 290 students of the University of Rijeka attending Early and Preschool Education and Teacher Education programs. Significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and personality traits were found: extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience. Neuroticism was significantly decreased in both groups of participants. Differences in these two groups of students are not significant in life satisfaction and personality traits except in conscientiousness, which is significantly higher among future primary school teachers as opposed to future preschool teachers. Given the significant correlation of age and the year of study with personality traits, the established findings are discussed in terms of the varying length of the study programs.