The Concept of Lifelong Learning - Report Example

Topic: Lifelong Learning Student’s Name: Course Code: Instructor’s Name: Date: Introduction Lifelong learning is an essential and necessary concept for all people around the globe. The most important factor to be considered in this perspective is the fact that lifelong learning has now become world-wide affair in the contemporary society. Learning has now become a major instrument in promoting development hence most nations that are keen to realise development have embarked in ensuring that lifelong learning receives priority in terms of national policies. We have to agree that the evolution from capital based economy to a knowledge based economy has greatly influence the positive response towards promoting lifelong learning around the world. This paper explores the concept of lifelong learning and scrutinizes how it’s employed in the contemporary society throughout the world. The essay will begin with giving a clear definition of the term lifelong learning followed by outlining the purpose for lifelong learning. The paper will look at the mechanisms that can be employed by individuals in the current society to ensure that lifelong learning system is correctly adopted. It will then explore the various factors that have hindered the development of lifelong learning and recommend the various strategies that can be employed by individuals irrespective of their country of origin to enable them to compete in the ever changing knowledge based economy. The paper will conclude with a concise conclusion on a personal point of view on the concept of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning Lifelong learning can be critically defined as the all learning activity undertaken in the life of an individual with the with the sole purpose of acquiring and improving knowledge and skills and competence within a personal ,community, social and or employment related point of view. Lifelong learning entails acquiring and making new changes on all kinds of abilities, interests and knowledge just before starting formal learning in educational institutions all the way up to after retiring from work. It usually occurs through making personal observation throughout one’s life. Lifelong learning is usually done willingly without being pushed by anyone because the learner personally understands that the skills and knowledge gained in the course of learning could be beneficial in various ways (Watson, 2003). Purpose for lifelong learning It is very important for individuals who pursue lifelong learning to realise that it is a continuous process that calls for a lot of sacrifice and commitment to achieve their specific goals. The same applies to individual countries that want to pursue lifelong learning. Governments of the target countries need to realise that lifelong learning should ensure creating a positive impact in the society to benefit the society and help develop the economy. Therefore, countries especially in developing countries need to acknowledge how lifelong learning has been beneficial to the countries that have employed its use like in Europe and United States. They should then identify the key areas where they are competent enough and come up with logical strategies and realistic actions to assist in promoting lifelong learning. Stages of lifelong learning Lifelong learning encompasses people of all ages acquiring knowledge in educational institutions, at work place, at home and through leisure activities. Lifelong learning usually consists of the zero to five age groups, six to 24 age groups, 25 to 60 age groups, and 60 above age group. It should therefore be understood that learning is not only limited to a particular group of people but should instead be practised by everyone in the society. This is because depending on the training one is receiving, skills gained in the process can benefit an individual irrespective of age. For example people may get taught on the importance of a healthy balanced diet by a nutritionist. I am very sure that the knowledge given to people attending the training will benefit all people in all age groups because a healthy diet is essential for every individual whether old or young. Another example of an incidence where people can seek knowledge irrespective of age is being trained on how to keep fit by performing routine exercises (Boshier, 1998). Majority of the people in the modern society lack the ability to distinguish between lifelong learning as a gradual process that should practised continuously in their life time. Majority of the people view the learning process as educational principle that need to be realised only in learning institutions and only at a particular period. This is a major setback especially to those countries that want to strategise on ensuring that lifelong learning is embraced in their countries Therefore convincing people to adopt to the concept of lifelong learning is somehow a challenge to most nations especially in developing countries that are lagging behind in terms of economy and even in technology. Some scholars have argued that a clear background and certain circumstances greatly influence how people can embrace the concept of lifelong learning. This is evident when one makes a critical analysis on this concept. For example in analyzing how lifelong learning is practised around the globe, one has to consider various factors that have either contributed to the concept of lifelong learning being an achievement or otherwise. It should be understood that the factors that can be attributed to having hindered the process of lifelong learning in developing countries are bound to differ from those in developed countries. In addition, the level of lifelong learning is likely to differ in that in most developing countries they are likely to have made very little steps towards realising their goals because of the obvious reasons while in developed countries, they are likely to have made significant steps(World Bank Report,2003). Developing countries risk being excluded in the current competitive global knowledge economy because their education and training systems are not equipping learners with the required and appropriate skills. To react to this challenge, policymakers need to make fundamental changes. They need to shift from the information-based, teacher-directed learning provided within a formal education system governed by directives with a new type of learning that emphasizes creating, applying, analysing, and synthesizing knowledge and engaging in joint learning in the entire life-time. It should be clearly understood that implementing the concept of lifelong learning can be a challenge to those countries that are lagging behind in terms of development. This is because lifelong learning is a process that requires a lot of resources especially in terms of finance. This can be in terms of both putting up training systems, paying for the training given and even purchasing educational materials. Therefore, lifelong learning cannot be affordable to all people therefore becoming a dream come true to most people especially in developing countries. For lifelong learning to be realised globally especially in developing nations then various strategies should be put in place to come up with clear policies that can help ensure that learning is made available, accessible and affordable to all. However, for this to be practically realised this should be an initiative from all concerned parties including the government, the public and other stakeholders. Another factor that hinders the practice of lifelong learning is ignorance. This is mostly evident in countries that have not fully embraced modernity and haven’t fully realised the importance of education especially those in Africa. People in most African countries especially the poor in rural areas have not been able to access even the basic education therefore trying to impose the concept of lifelong learning is a futile endeavour. It’s important that illiteracy is first eliminated in these areas. People are likely to acquire knowledge by reading newspaper, magazines, watching TV and even listening to radio. Therefore for one to be able to learn from these materials then they must be able to read and write and be able to speak in official languages like English, French and Spanish depending on where they come from. In addition, most people believe that people pursue education so as to open the way for white-collar jobs and therefore education should be left to young people who after school will seek employment. They do not realise that there are other essential benefits of learning other than employment thus excluding older people from learning. Unless, people are made aware of these misconceptions then the concept of lifelong learning will continue being a dream come true especially in developing countries. Technology is also essential in ensuring that lifelong learning is practised globally. This is because learning especially informal and non formal learning that is usually done through mass media and the internet will not be possible in areas that are not developed in terms of technology. For example China which in the recent years has seen its economy grow has utilised the available new and modern technologies to promote lifelong learning. I believe that the crucial task that can be performed is by ensuring that various nations sharing common policies on the concept lifelong learning come together and lay down suggestions on interventions that can be made in promoting lifelong learning. They can look at the various practices that they have employed as individual countries in promoting lifelong learning. Identify the good practices that have positively promoted the concept of lifelong and the bad practices that have hindered its development. This will provide a way forward the implementation of lifelong learning. Even though many may consider dealing on the good practices only this has not been helpful because they have not been able to learn from the previous mistakes therefore they are bound to repeat the mistakes or stagnate on the steps they have made. Nations have to keep an open mind to innovative practices that have made a positive impact as well as to those ones that have not yielded positive results. An analysis of what actually works and what does not work will give us a more appropriate and solid understanding of the condition of lifelong learning in a range of contexts. Learning occurs continuously and one needs to be aware when making linkages with these different types of learning. While focusing on priorities, one should have a clear picture of the necessary links of the areas of lifelong learning. For example, when one’s main purpose is to instill skills for employment purposes he or she should also in the process shed some light on the need for a democratic process because democracy is essential in workplace. By establishing linkages, we will able to place ourselves in this very wide concept of lifelong learning. With the skills and knowledge acquired we will be in a position to efficiently and in appropriate manner divide and distribute the available resources for the good of the society. Therefore the key issue is to put in place the right mechanisms for working together in the short term and long term in developing lifelong learning. Integrating lifelong learning perspectives is a difficult course that calls for all concerned parties to take part actively. For example the conference held in Beijing has been viewed as a minor step in integrating lifelong learning although many believe that resolutions from this particular conference may inspire and promote positive actions towards integrating lifelong perspectives A good example, of a country in Europe that has embraced lifelong learning is Finland. Finland has tried to invest in lifelong learning because it understands its importance. The government of Finland has shown great commitment in its education policies a move that has resulted in it placed ahead of other European countries. It has emphasised that lifelong learning must be understood as a move that steers education policy and other policy sectors involved in learning with the aim of providing opportunities for people to cultivate skills for continuous learning via out their lives. Other countries that have understood the importance lifelong learning and embraced lifelong learning in Europe include Poland, Germany, Belgium and Slovakia. I can ascertain that in most European countries lifelong learning is a key political agenda. Most countries have emphasised on the need to develop national lifelong learning strategy as stipulated by the EU within the reformed Lisbon Strategy agenda. However, the main possible challenge that most countries are bound to face is coming up with a clear and complete strategy in implementing the lifelong learning policies and ensure that they become reality and in the long run practical benefits are realised. This should be emulated by other nations that have not yet embraced the concept of lifelong learning because with commitment and hard-work it’s achievable. To create effective and efficiency lifelong learning systems, countries need to make important changes to both the governance and the financing of education and training. Governments should shift their focus from public financing and public provision of education and training to creating accommodating policy and regulatory frameworks that cover a wider range of institutional systems. These frameworks include legislation and making arrangements for ensuring good synchronization in government departments and other institutions involved in education and training activities; and mechanisms for certifying the achievements of learners, monitoring institutional and system performance, and promoting learning pathways (World Bank, 2003). Conclusion I believe building a lifelong learning system in the modern society is a primary process of structural alteration of the whole entire national education system from a logical perspective of system approach. Lifelong learning can thus be summed up as being an essential and necessary concept for all people and therefore should be encouraged and embraced by all in the society. Lifelong learning equips an individual with the necessary knowledge and skills that help on to develop economically, socially, financially, mentally and even politically. Knowledge, skills, economic growth and development in conjunction with employment of modern sophisticated technologies greatly influence the manner in which people learn and in turn practically apply what they have learned throughout their lives. In the modern industries most jobs require employees to learn how to perform routine functions, which, for the most part, remain constant over time. Most learning takes place when an employee commences a new job and continues throughout the time he or she will work in that place. Therefore, in this knowledge based economy, change is so fast that workers regularly need to acquire new skills. Firms can no longer rely entirely on new graduates or new labor market entrants as the chief source of new skills and knowledge. Instead, they need workers who are willing and able to bring up to date their skills throughout their lifetimes. Countries need to respond to these needs by creating education and training systems that equip people with the appropriate skills. Finally, in order to prosper in the society one needs to adopt and embrace the right skills and competencies to enable one actively in the ever changing knowledge based economy. These include acquiring basic and essential academic skills such as literacy, foreign language, communication and entrepreneurship skills and also skills on information technology. With these necessary basic skills one is able to compete in the modern society for example he or she can use the acquired skills to engage in self employment instead of seeking to be employment by other people especially in the current society where jobs have become rare to get. References Boshier, R. (1998). Edgar Faure after 25 years. Edited by; Holford, J Jarvis, P and Griffin, C (Eds). 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