WHAT IS LIFELONG LEARNING?
The scale of current economic and social change, the rapid transition
to a knowledge-based society and demographic pressures resulting
from an ageing population in Europe are all challenges which demand
a new approach to education and training, within the framework
of lifelong learning.
In the context of these challenges, lifelong learning was given
a high priority at the Council meetings of Lisbon and Stockholm,
and the Communication responds to the specific mandate of the
Feira European Council.
Lifelong learning is defined in the Communication 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."
Lifelong learning is therefore about:
acquiring and updating all kinds of abilities, interests, knowledge
and qualifications from the pre-school years to post-retirement.
It 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, taking more control of his or her future.
valuing all forms of learning, including: formal learning, such
as a degree course followed at university; 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 learning how
to play an instrument together with friends.
Learning opportunities should be available to all citizens on
an ongoing basis. In practice this should mean that citizens each
have individual learning pathways, suitable to their needs and
interests at all stages of their lives. The content of learning,
the way learning is accessed, and where it takes place may vary
depending on the learner and their learning requirements.
Lifelong learning is also about providing "second chances"
to update basic skills and also offering learning opportunities
at more advanced levels. All this means that formal systems of
provision need to become much more open and flexible, so that
such opportunities can truly be tailored to the needs of the learner,
or indeed the potential learner.
The Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013
What the Lifelong Learning Programme offers to ....
Individuals
Organisations
Structure of the Lifelong Learning Programme
Sectoral sub-programmes
Transversal programmes
Jean
Monnet programme
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