An Analysis of Isomorphism and Decoupling of the ‘Visiting Lifelong Education’ Policy: Focusing on the case of “D Autonomous Region”

Objectives The purpose of this study is to reveal how the ‘visiting lifelong education’ policy is accepted, settled, and changed and developed in the region from the perspective of the isomorphism theory of sociological institutionalism. Methods To this end, the case of D Autonomous District, which introduced the nation's first “visiting lifelong education” policy in 2009, was selected, focusing on the “visiting lifelong education” policy adopted and promoted by most lifelong learning cities as a major policy, and the phenomenon of isomorphism and decoupling of policies was analyzed. As a research method, in-depth interviews (FGI) were conducted with public officials and lifelong educators who worked from the introduction of the ‘D Autonomous Region’ policy until recently, and internal and external policy data were collected and analyzed to understand policy performance and changes. Results As a result of the analysis, the ‘visiting lifelong education’ policy of ‘D Autonomous Region’ was forced isomorphism according to institutional pressure and resource dependence pursued by the lifelong learning city policy to realize a learning society, and imitative isomorphism occurred while benchmarking Japan's lifelong learning city case. In addition, within the organization in charge of policy projects, a normative isomorphism pattern was also found through networking between lifelong educators and external experts. On the other hand, as policies were stabilized and systematized, decoupling phenomena such as compromise on the imbalance between supply and demand, strategic avoidance to maintain the current system and operation method, and refusal to demand social change appeared. Conclusions Through the isomorphism theory, this study was able to find out how lifelong education policies are accepted, changed, developed, and stagnated in the region in social, institutional, and organizational interactions. In the process of policy implementation, strategically selected isomorphism and decoupling strategies according to internal and external influencing factors create new policy practices and lead to policy regression and stagnation. Therefore, strategic policy choices and changes that respond quickly to changes in the historical and social environment are necessary to ensure flexible policy operation and sustainability in response to the demands of the new era.