Lifelong Learning
What is Lifelong Learning?
Lifelong Learning has become a predominant goal for international policy making, and is often advocated as a way to achieve socio-economic development and as a tool for promoting the 'knowledge-based' society.
It means that education is diverse, adapted to the individual and available throughout our lives. LLL is the guiding principle for educational strategies laid down by the European Commission, OECD and UNECSO, and is increasingly discussed as a framework for reforms in regional and national as well at the emerging economies all over the world.
In the European Council Communication LLL is defined as "all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competence, within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective."
Thus, LLL means:
- acquisition and updating of all kinds of abilities, interests, knowledge and qualifications lifelong from the pre-school years to post-retirement. LLL promotes the development of knowledge and competences that will enable each citizen to adapt to the knowledge-based society and actively participate in all spheres of social and economic life, to take control of his or her future.
- valuing all forms of life-wide learning, including: formal learning, such as a university course; non-formal learning, such as vocational skills acquired at the workplace; and informal learning, such as inter-generational learning, for example where parents learn to use ICT through their children, or learn how to play an instrument together with friends.
Why study the European Masters in Lifelong Learning?
The MA LLL is aimed to provide policy-makers and professionals who manage, deliver or support LLL an opportunity to develop their own analysis and practice in a constantly changing economic, social, technological and political environment.
The European Masters in LLL is a response to the growing significance of and demand for LLL in regional and national policy-making worldwide.
European Masters in Lifelong Learning: Policy and Management (MA LLL) offers an opportunity to explore fundamental questions which influences regional, national and international policies.
Interest in lifelong learning has increased dramatically since the publication of the groundbreaking reports from UNESCO and the OECD in the 1970s and 1980s. These reports drew attention to the connection between economic and technological change and growing demand for access to lifelong learning.
Since 2001, lifelong learning has been at the heart of European Union's attempt to develop a knowledge-based society to enhance competitiveness as well as to combat social exclusion and to develop active citizenship to promote social justice.
Policies concerning Lifelong Learning
At the Lisbon European Council, which was held in March 2000, government leaders launched a 10-year mission for the EU to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustained economic growth and able to provide more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. Lifelong Learning is a core element of this strategy.
Overview of EU policies on Lifelong Learning
The vision and overall goal of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning is: An open learning world in which the right to learn is exercised and enjoyed by all citizens throughout their lives, and where individuals, communities and societies construct their learning pathways in order to transform themselves and their environment.
Download a UNESCO key publication of lifelong learning (PDF)
Lifelong Learning for all is the guiding framework for OECD's work on learning, both formal and informal. The work is targeted at policy makers, decision makers, governments and stakeholders in education, training policy etc.
Visit OECD's website about Education and Lifelong Learning
Books about Lifelong Learning
John Field's "Lifelong Learning and the new educational order" represents a substantial contribution to the literature on lifelong learning.
Read an excerpt from the book
'Milestones towards Lifelong Learning Systems' is an anthology from the Danish University of Education Press. In this anthology Professor Peter Jarvis, Professor Kjell Rubenson and Professor Andy Green provide answers to some of the most urgent questions about Lifelong Learning.
What are the adult education trends and issues in Europe?
Review of adult education trends in the EU member countries by The European Association for the Education of Adults, identifying key issues requiring the development of new policy
Download the report: Adult education trends and issues in Europe (doc)
Helena Kovac from Serbia
MA LLL student, Batch 3
"At MA LLL, we are interested in how people learn: as individuals, in organisations and in the knowledge society in general. MA LLL students come from all over the world, and classroom discussions are often very interesting and lively because the students bring their highly disparate perspectives and cultural backgrounds to the discussions. Misunderstandings happen, but more often the range of different perspectives broadens one’s horizon and adds immense value to the discussions."
- IUL interns, 2011
In 2011 a few MA LLL students got the opportunity to be student interns at UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.
"They have the opportunity to enrich their experience, share knowledge and assist UIL in its commitment to realising the concept of lifelong learning in policy, research or practice levels. Some of our interns are students of the Erasmus Mundus European Masters Programme in Lifelong Learning: Policy and Management, who are thus, as future lifelong learning professionals, empowered to apply the knowledge and competencies acquired during their studies.
All interns are working closely with experienced supervisors on the topics related to their fields of study as well as to their interests but also to the needs of the Institute. They are engaged in UIL activities in support of literacy initiatives, lifelong learning policies and information provision in the field of adult learning and education." UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.