Lifelong Learning
"By supporting lifelong learning, it gives employers and employees the skills and qualities they need for economic productivity and growth".
Globalisation increases the importance of lifelong learning in that skills and knowledge need to be regularly enhanced and updated in order to adapt to new developments in an increasingly dynamic environment. Flexible delivery and 'bite-sized' learning are important aspects of supporting lifelong learning.
Lifelong learning is about personal development, with the learner as 'owner' of educational achievement. Transportability of the learning is an important feature and facilitator of learner progression. Lifelong learning has an important role to play in the widening participation agenda, which has a focus on increasing access to Higher Education through different educational pathways. There is a requirement for support for learners from all backgrounds/educational levels.
The policy context
"In ten years, building on the newfound capabilities of our workforces, our newly skilled graduates and our new appetite for innovation, we could be anywhere - if we have the ambition and the imagination to go there".
DFES 'Harnessing technology: Transforming learning and children's services', March 2005.
The development of lifelong learning as a key aspect of the 21st century educational landscape has been underpinned by a range of reports, papers and initiatives including:
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The 'Fryer Report' Learning for the 21st Century. First report of the National Advisory Group for Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, November 1997.
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The DfES e-Strategy, Harnessing technology: Transforming learning and children's services', March 2005.
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The HEFCE Strategy for e-learning, March 2005.
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The Lisbon Agenda. This addresses the importance of education and skills. Important in the EU agenda e.g. 2007-2013 Lifelong Learning programme. Lifelong learning can play a key part in the pursuit of the EU as the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment by 2010.
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The UK development of lifelong learning through initiatives such as the Regional Lifelong Learning (R3L) networks.
Important elements
JISC has been involved in many initiatives that have supported lifelong learning over the years, such as the MLEs for Lifelong Learning programme. Other outputs have included:
Supporting Learners across the Educational Landscape briefing paper
Susie's journey presents a vision of lifelong learning, demonstrating the need for this to be supported by the seamless transfer of records between institutions throughout a learner's lifetime.
More recently, JISC has funded a number of regional and collaborative projects to implement and evaluate the cross-institutional use of e-learning to support lifelong learning, including the provision of personalised learning experiences and flexible delivery to support progression, widening participation and work-based learning under the two phases of the Cross-institutional use of e-learning to support lifelong learners programme. [Phase 1 | Phase 2]
JISC infoNet's work includes the e-Portfolios infoKit which has a section on lifelong learning as well as accompanying case studies.
Student Progress Files, consisting of two elements; a transcript recording students' achievement which should follow a common format devised by institutions collectively through their representative bodies; a means by which students can monitor, build and reflect upon their personal development were a recommendation of the 1997 'Dearing Report' (National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education). They are a useful supporting tool for learners offering personal record of achievements both formal and informal (Transcript and PDP). Personal Development Planning offers the opportunity for transition, application and reflection.
Burgess recommendations included the Higher Education Achievement Report, an electronic record which will be the key vehicle for measuring and recording student achievement.
Employer engagement is important to the successful fostering/supporting of lifelong learning in the workplace. The workforce generally has become increasingly mobile and workers have their own individual aspirations. This has strong ties with the mobility and employability challenges.
For the educational organisation, the key is enabling not inhibiting. Crossing the boundaries between organisations is important to the success of lifelong learning and there are benefits to be had for alumni as well as for current students/learners.
The role of technology
Technology is a major enabler of lifelong learning and can play a key part in its development. e-Portfolios are an excellent example of a technological tool that a learner can develop and grow alongside the learning experience. The e-Portfolios infoKit has a section on lifelong learning. The increase of 'bite-sized' learning and the transfer of credits and the recognition of previous attainment of experience is an important element of lifelong learning and interoperability issues are key from a technology perspective.
