Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning, the "continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual" plays a crucial role for personal development, social inclusion, well-being, active citizenship, competitiveness, and employability. It stimulates and empowers people to acquire the knowledge that is required through lifetime (Laal & Salamati, 2012).
Europe aims to promote lifelong learning as a) that way workers are more flexible and more likely to be employed and b) education is a right, a right of personal enrichment and development (Romijn, 2002). In addition, education is "a vital instrument for the persistence of racial discrimination, social stratification, differences between men and women, but mainly, for the non-acceptance of 'the other one', for exclusion." (Milan, 2002)



- Laal, M. & Salamati, P. (2012) Lifelong learning; why do we need it? Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 399-403
- Milan, C. (2002) Education for Non-discrimination. In: Medel-Anonuevo (ed.) Integrating Lifelong Learning Perspectives, UNESCO Institute for Education, 102-110
- Romijn, C. (2002) Combining the world of work, Integrating Lifelong Learning Perspectives, UNESCO Institute for Education, 134-140
- photograph by Elliott Erwitt via