IFIP TC3 Lifelong Learning Position Paper

Three main research questions are identified for higher education to effectively address Lifelong Learning. Lifelong Learning is an educational issue, because it is pulled by the political agenda, by economical, social, civic, cultural, personal and also Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developments. From an employment related perspective ‘students’ in Lifelong Learning are knowledge workers (knowledge creators) and skills workers (knowledge appliers), basically learning at the workplace. From the social and civic perspective ‘students’ are people learning in ‘learning communities’. From a personal perspective students are persons following initial education to be effective in the workplace (employment related) and in society (community related). The role of ICT is one of empowerment, enhancement of creativity and support. Lifelong Learning is demand driven, flexible learning that will force educational institutions to change. In this special attention should be given to the relevance of Lifelong Learning for countries with emerging knowledge intensive economies.