lifelong learning
Learning and Quality (LINQ) 2012
The motto of LINQ 2012 is:
"Innovation and Quality: How do they fit together?"
The conference is addressing Learning Innovations and Quality and in particular Lifelong Learning (LLL), Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL), quality standards and certification, human resources development, competences and skills, as well as learning, innovation and quality management systems.
LINQ 2012 has launched its Call for Papers, available here.
All experts and practitioners are invited to contribute to the dialogue on the Quality Certification in Learning, Education and Training (LET) and to submit high quality papers describing fully developed results, on‐going work or innovative concepts on the following topics:
Innovations and future trends in Learning, Education and Training (LET)
Quality Development and Certification in LET
Competence and skills development in lifelong learning
Implementation of learning innovations
Technology‐Enhanced Learning for schools, universities and lifelong learning
Web 2.0, Social Media and Online Communities for LET
Learning outcome orientation and quality certification
Standardisation of LET design, production and services
Knowledge, innovation and ideas management in LET contexts
Learning quality in vocational education and training and HR
Certification of LET services and providers
Quality and standardization of learning assessment and evaluation
Harmonization of innovations and quality development in LET
Overview of the important dates:
Paper submission deadline: July 10, 2012
Notification of acceptance: August 20, 2012
Deadline for author registration: September 7, 2012
Camera-Ready copy due: September 7, 2012
Deadline for visitor registration: September 20, 2012
Conference program: October 23, 2012
On-line workshop on "Regional Collaboration and Partnership in University Lifelong Learning"
An on-line distance workshop in real time moderated by Kadri Kiigema, from the University of Tallinn, Estonia
If you are interested in:
- identifying the reasons why universities should work in regional collaboration and partnership;
- finding new partners among regional authorities or employers to broaden the potential market for courses or services and participate in regional development;
exploring the practical issues and opportunities that arise from regional collaborations and partnerships including critical aspects of their success
Then, join us in this on-line session.
Participation is free for all participants since it is part of the IMPLEMENT project supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the EC. A maximum of 20 participants can register to this workshop – so be quick.
What is IMPLEMENT?
IMPLEMENT aims at supporting universities in becoming true Lifelong Learning Universities. It is exploiting the excellent training materials of the BeFlexPlus project by creating virtual learning environments. Currently, the course materials are revised, adapted to partners’ LLL circumstances and updated to be turned into 5 distinct and freely available online courses.
These courses are intended for:
- counsellors, advisers, assessors, trainers or process managers working with RPL,
- heads of unit, project managers, experts in regional collaboration and partnership, project consultants, teachers or adult educators,
- administrators or managers in University Lifelong Learning/Continuing Education
Project objectives
- To develop a sustainable set of online training tools in five distinct areas for a wide use throughout Europe
- To use the material in training events for the development of university staff
- To cooperate with key university players for the materials’ adaptation to national and regional needs
- To promote trans-national and trans-sectoral cooperation
- To exploit best practices on key LLL topics
Review of Informal Adult and Community Learning - National consultation for citizens: final report
This report sets out the results of a citizens’ survey designed to contribute to the government’s consultation on the future of informal adult and community learning.
The government published a consultation on how best to develop the new framework for the Further Education (FE) landscape in August 2011. The consultation included detailed questions on informal adult and community learning (see New Challenges, New Chances: Next Steps in Implementing the Further Education Reform Programme – Review of Informal Adult and Community Learning). The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) commissioned NIACE to organise a separate consultation accessible to all. This citizens’ consultation ran from 1 August 2011 to 31 October 2011.
A total of 6,306 individuals and 227 groups from all areas of England submitted their views.
Read or download the full report (January 2012) here.
New Extended Deadline for Paper Submission on Learning and Active Ageing: April 27!
Learning and Active Ageing
This issue of eLearning Papers will explore innovative teaching methods and new learning environments being used effectively to promote lifelong learning among older people in Europe.
The ageing of the European population raises issues in almost all aspects of life: the employment and housing markets, pension schemes, health and welfare systems, transport networks, goods and services which will have to adapt to new needs and new social and financial realities. The way European society as a whole addresses these challenges will condition our future, its capacity to create smart and inclusive growth, strengthening knowledge, creativity and innovation that will benefit citizens of all ages , while at the same time reinforcing solidarity between generations to reinvent a new way of living together.
Active ageing in Europe calls for a new vision of older people and their social roles that are more in line with the reality of the 21st century. Lifelong learning is a key component of active ageing, ensuring to develop up-to-date skills right to the end of one’s professional career and continuing post-retirement to improve an individual’s social functioning and well-being and increase the potential for older adults to contribute actively to society through paid employment, volunteering, active citizenship and self-help for independent living. The relationship between higher educational attainment and living longer with improved health has been established in many countries. Furthermore, the roles of older people in workplace, or as volunteers or informal caregivers, contribute to their personal health and the wellbeing of communities.
In order to foster active ageing, older citizens need to have access to quality employment, the means to participate fully in society and the ability to live independently a fulfilling old age. This presents a two-fold learning challenge that addresses the skills and training of this target group and also raises awareness within the greater community.
This issue of eLearning Papers explores what teaching methods and learning environments are being used effectively to promote lifelong learning among older people. Enrichment and skill building educational programmes for older people must be continuously supported, promoted and facilitated as part of the active ageing process. This issue will also consider ways in which civil society, governments and employers support learning and active ageing.
Environments can be made much more age-friendly by increasing the public's sensitivity to the needs of older citizens and fostering an awareness of what they can contribute and why we need to mobilise all the human capital they represent. Public campaigns like the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 are giving rise to new initiatives that need to be shared and analysed.
eLearning Papers seeks submissions about learning and active ageing in the 21st century, for both sections: In-Depth and From the Field. We specifically invite contributions which address one or several of the following issues:
- Bridging the digital divide among older people paying due attention to specific challenges faced by older persons with impairments, ethnic minorities, low incomes, older women, etc.
- Open educational resources for non-traditional students
- Age-friendly environments, goods and services
- Fostering technical skills to create adept senior e-learners
- Learning environments for older learners
- Challenges for teachers and developers working with older students using ICT
- Policies and practice: institutional innovation supported by ICTs
The article submission has been extended to 27 April, 2012. The provisional date of publication is May, 2012.
For further information and to submit your article, please contact: jimena.marquez@elearningpapers.eu
Guest editor: Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General, AGE Platform Europe.
- See the complete guidelines at: Instructions for writers
The EvoLLLution - Illuminating the lifelong learning movement
The EvoLLLution is a grassroots online newspaper about higher education. The content is driven by the interests of the members.
You can find detailed opinions, news and research about the impact of non-traditional programs on the higher education industry and society-at-large.
The EvoLLLution was crafted in recognition of the fact that there are innovators at every level of every institution. From the college dean, to the state system president to the professional student, individuals everywhere are retooling, reorganizing and rethinking their way into the 21st century. These are the people writing our articles and shaping the future of lifelong learning.
VIsit the website to find out how you can contribute.
Call for Papers on Learning and Active Ageing Open until April 20, 2012
This issue of eLearning Papers will explore innovative teaching methods and new learning environments being used effectively to promote lifelong learning among older people in Europe.
The ageing of the European population raises issues in almost all aspects of life: the employment and housing markets, pension schemes, health and welfare systems, transport networks, goods and services which will have to adapt to new needs and new social and financial realities. The way European society as a whole addresses these challenges will condition our future, its capacity to create smart and inclusive growth, strengthening knowledge, creativity and innovation that will benefit citizens of all ages , while at the same time reinforcing solidarity between generations to reinvent a new way of living together.
Active ageing in Europe calls for a new vision of older people and their social roles that are more in line with the reality of the 21st century. Lifelong learning is a key component of active ageing, ensuring to develop up-to-date skills right to the end of one’s professional career and continuing post-retirement to improve an individual’s social functioning and well-being and increase the potential for older adults to contribute actively to society through paid employment, volunteering, active citizenship and self-help for independent living. The relationship between higher educational attainment and living longer with improved health has been established in many countries. Furthermore, the roles of older people in workplace, or as volunteers or informal caregivers, contribute to their personal health and the wellbeing of communities.
In order to foster active ageing, older citizens need to have access to quality employment, the means to participate fully in society and the ability to live independently a fulfilling old age. This presents a two-fold learning challenge that addresses the skills and training of this target group and also raises awareness within the greater community.
This issue of eLearning Papers explores what teaching methods and learning environments are being used effectively to promote lifelong learning among older people. Enrichment and skill building educational programmes for older people must be continuously supported, promoted and facilitated as part of the active ageing process. This issue will also consider ways in which civil society, governments and employers support learning and active ageing.
Environments can be made much more age-friendly by increasing the public's sensitivity to the needs of older citizens and fostering an awareness of what they can contribute and why we need to mobilise all the human capital they represent. Public campaigns like the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 are giving rise to new initiatives that need to be shared and analysed.
eLearning Papers seeks submissions about learning and active ageing in the 21st century, for both sections: In-Depth and From the Field. We specifically invite contributions which address one or several of the following issues:
- Bridging the digital divide among older people paying due attention to specific challenges faced by older persons with impairments, ethnic minorities, low incomes, older women, etc.
- Open educational resources for non-traditional students
- Age-friendly environments, goods and services
- Fostering technical skills to create adept senior e-learners
- Learning environments for older learners
- Challenges for teachers and developers working with older students using ICT
- Policies and practice: institutional innovation supported by ICTs
The article submission closes on 20 April, 2012. The provisional date of publication is May, 2012.
For further information and to submit your article, please contact: jimena.marquez@elearningpapers.eu
Guest editor: Anne-Sophie Parent, Secretary General, AGE Platform Europe.
- See the complete guidelines at: Instructions for writers
43rd EUCEN European Conference - Universities’ Engagement in and with Society. The ULLL contribution
The 43rd EUCEN European Conference takes up two major aspects of University Lifelong Learning (ULLL): its diversity (the "lifewide" dimension) and its potential for providing learning opportunities throughout one’s life (the "lifelong" dimension).
ULLL in all its diversity...
Universities all over Europe are at present intensively developing institutional strategies for Lifelong Learning, thus progressing to a Lifelong Learning University. All the individual strategic development processes and the results of European strategic projects supporting universities show clearly that there is no single definition or approach to University Lifelong Learning and that the concept covers a wide range of activities. Best and good practices also demonstrate that this diversity is positive because it allows institutions to find their own answer, at institutional and regional level embedded in an international university environment, to positioning themselves when it comes to ULLL. EUCEN developed a wide definition for ULLL which is more an encouragement for an institution’s development than a definition in the traditional sense:
"ULLL is the provision by higher education institutions of learning opportunities, services and research for: the personal and professional development of a wide range of individuals – lifelong and lifewide; and the social, cultural and economic development of communities and the region. It is at university level and research-based; it focuses primarily on the needs of the learners; and it is often developed and/or provided in collaboration with stakeholders and external actors." (EUCEN BeFlex Project)
With this 43rd EUCEN European Conference we would like to offer an open and stimulating forum for practitioners, policy makers and researchers. We will explore this wide spectrum of contributions University Lifelong Learning is making to societal development. We will look at the contribution ULLL is making to stimulate and accompany innovative processes in regional business and industry, in NGOs, and in the public sector. We will also look at the contribution ULLL is making to Civil Society in a more general sense, providing learning opportunities for individuals and groups for active citizenship and community development, aiming at a democratic development in our societies. Developing ULLL successfully means that more and more "new faces" are knocking at the doors of Higher Education – learners who were usually not considering Higher Education but pursuing other educational and professional paths. As institutions we need to look at how welcoming we really are – marketing is not enough. What do we do with these "new learners"? How can we support them efficiently and effectively?
Universities as "learning spaces" throughout one’s life...
2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity promoted by the European Commission and other stakeholders; it is intended to raise awareness, identify and disseminate good practice and to encourage policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing. Within the framework of this conference, we would like to look more closely into this topic by exploring the role of ULLL in individual wellbeing, civic engagement and second careers in later life. Here Higher Education Institutions need to act in a responsible way to include all groups of society and encourage older people to take an active part in society in all areas. However, it is our sincere opinion that the future challenge is "mainstreaming ageing" – learning in later life is not only referring to learning after retirement, but also to people still in employment who want to actively shape their career at a later stage. As ULLL institutions we need to develop new learning opportunities for this group. This is not only to support those wishing to pursue individual career paths, but it is a necessity in view of the decreasing labour force within the next decades in almost all our European countries.
ALADIN - Adult Learning Documentation and Information Network. Directory of Members 2012
Despite rapid expansion of knowledge and new media, many in the adult learning community have to contend with shortages of information and resources in their work. This is particularly the case in developing countries. But better access to relevant information will improve the linkages between research, documentation and policy-making that are vital in meeting the needs of adult learning. Given such improvements, we would all benefit from more efficient project planning and less duplication of effort, more fruitful relationships and, above all, better-informed policy decisions. In line with its own dedication to the cause of lifelong learning, UIL is looking forward to coordinating further interesting and inspiring projects that support ALADIN’s vision of working for a global learning society, where information and knowledge on adult learning is created, well-documented and made accessible to all.
Eurobarometer survey on Active Ageing
To mark the European Year, Eurostat, has released the new publication "Active ageing and solidarity between generations – a statistical portrait of the European Union 2012", prepared in collaboration with the European Commission and Eurofound. The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations aims to encourage all key players to do what they can to create a society where older people can play their part. It is a huge opportunity to raise awareness, to exchange good practice and, most importantly, to foster a change in attitudes and policies.