CONSTRUCTION OF THE CONCEPT OF EXPANDED EDUCATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXTS

This research focuses on social and educational changes resulting from technological developments that have influenced directly the way people communicate and learn, favoring the gradual disappearance of boundaries between formal, non-formal and informal education. The model of "expanded education" is in a pre-theoretical state at present, so the primary aim of this research is to construct a theory of this educational model according to the current Network Society. The second goal of this research is to provide guidance describing educational activities and management practices according to this educational model, thereby assessing the extent to which a higher education institution is aligned with such a model.