e-Learning for Lifelong Learning in Denmark

5 Conclusions
There is no doubt that all the six countries recognise the importance of lifelong
learning in complementing existing formal education systems for greater national
productivity, employability and improved quality of life. All six sample countries,
too, recognise the importance of using ICT more broadly in education as well as
for improving access to educational opportunities and for better utilisation of e-Learning
in lifelong learning endeavours. In this respect, it is worthwhile to note that the
development of e-Learning for lifelong learning varies between the sample countries;
with South Korea, Denmark and Japan ahead of Malaysia, Slovakia and Thailand
in terms of conceptualisation, implementation and progress.
While it is universal for lifelong learning objectives to include meeting national goals
like productivity, employability as well as social needs for improved quality of life,
there are clear contrasts in its emphasis as reflected in the given policies, funding
and implementation. For example, Japan emphasises on meeting social needs for an
ageing society and Denmark is concerned not only with filling in gaps in the labour
force, but also with the broader social context of lifelong learning for self-fulfilment.
The other sample countries stress more on the aspects of productivity, employability
and competitiveness. These differences mark individual concerns and cultural features
that are unique to each country, and they of course have had great bearing on educational
priorities that directly address lifelong learning and e-Learning or at the very
least, influence them on a national scale.
While the reports have highlighted the current stage of e-Learning for lifelong learning
in the respective countries, they also point to many weak areas and missing
gaps that need to be strengthened and closed. It is these areas that provide the basis
for future direction of developing better systems and features that can be more specific
to e-Learning for lifelong learning. Each country faces a different set of challenges
24 e-ASEM White Paper : e-Learning for Lifelong Learning