SELECTED LEARNING STYLES AND COGNITIVE STYLES IN FURTHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNDER CONDITIONS OF DIGITALISATION OF THE ECONOMY

Abstract

The digitalisation of the economy requires the development of educational activities with focus on knowledge and skills that support innovation in ICTs. The aim of this paper is to identify the type of further education participant based on Fleming’s learning styles (VARK learning styles), and to characterise the achievement of set educational goals in the development of ICT knowledge and skills, broken down into cognitive, psychomotor, and affective educational goals in further professional education, and to focus on the applicability of some learning and teaching styles in continuing professional education. The focus of analysis is on two higher education fields of study, namely Social, economic and legal sciences (6213 – Economics and Management) and Education (7605 – Teacher Training and Educational Sciences), pursued by learners who are economically active in sections P – Education of the Statistical classification of economic activities SK NACE Rev. 2, 2007. Basic concepts and selected learning and cognitive styles are explained in the theoretical part of the research paper. Results of the questionnaire survey carried out from April to June 2025 and distributed in person or online are presented in the paper. Replies of 200 respondents from three countries (the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and the Hellenic Republic) were processed prevailingly by means of statistical methods and then verbally interpreted. The Jamovi, Version 2.3.26 statistical software and MS Excel were used for data processing. To analyse data frequency tables, contingency tables, descriptive statistics, and correlation coefficients were applied. Results of analysis show that most participants belong to visual types. Respondents’ replies indicate the learning style models are mainly applied in the field of study Teacher Training and Educational Sciences. Kolb’s model is applied in the field of study 6213. When verifying correlation dependences, the relationship between the fulfilment of cognitive goals of education the visual participant type was corroborated as well as in the achievement of psychomotor goals of education and the reading/writing participant type. The research paper is written in accordance with the aims of the primary research project VEGA No. 1/0198/25 “Emergence, development and sustainability of innovative enterprises”.