Lifelong Learning - Townsville City Council - Queensland Government

IntegrationLifelong learning is one of the means by whichindividuals respond to changes in society.Governments throughout the world are embracinglifelong learning and providing access to informaland formal learning opportunities as a solutionto social exclusion and disadvantage. Suchinvestment in learning has been demonstratedto improve not only the individual’s abilityto respond to change but also fosters socialcohesion, community wellbeing and economicsustainability.The community’s belief in the value of lifelonglearning is fundamental to the identification ofplaces and regions as learning communitiesglobal trendsThe recognition of learning as lifelong was giveninternational emphasis in 1973 by UNESCO(United Nations Educational Scientific andCultural Organization) in its published report, ofthe International Commission on the Developmentof Education, entitled “Learning to Be”. This reportcalled for a fundamental change in thinking abouteducation with its emphasis on teaching andteachers to one that focused on “learning andlearners”. It identified learning as not only formal,that is, institution centred and qualificationbased but also as informal, focused on individualdevelopment throughout life.At the same time the Organisation for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD) promotededucation through upskilling and reskilling as ameans of stimulating economic growth in Europe.Following the OECD conference in Gothenburgin 1992 the concepts of “lifelong learning” and“learning communities” gained greater impetus.The learning communities movement with itsfocus on lifelong learning has spread from Europeto other parts of the world including, Canada,United States, Australia and parts of Asia andAfrica.australian governmentLearning communities have been developing inAustralia for more than ten years.In October 1999 the Australian federal governmentconvened the Regional Australia Summit todevelop strategies to address challenges facingregional Australia. One of the themes discussedwas “Education and Training in Regional Australia”.In that paper learning was emphasised as a vehiclefor building community resilience and wellbeing.6 Lifelong Learning Strategic Action Plan 2012-2014