Management of Lifelong Learning: from Individuals to Learning Organizations and Societies

Abstract

Learning is the core competency required by the human beings, all living things, and even half-organisms like viruses, to survive in this world. Learning continues throughout one's life. When learning stops, it is almost the end of life. This fact remains explicit for anyone who observes life closely. Review of literature on progresses, innovations and overall successes of individuals, societies and organizations reveals that such achievements are greatly facilitated by the effective and efficient management of the lifelong learning process. Management of lifelong learning involves facilitation of all the life-cycle events of learning specific to various contexts in life like childcare, formal education and preparation for employment, employment, entrepreneurship, and active aging. That is why almost all international organizations, like UN, WHO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Commonwealth of Learning (COL), universities across the world, organizations that promote entrepreneurship, government establishments, industries, skill development programmes etc promote strategies, initiatives, and platforms to nurture lifelong learning. // Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of UN sets the goal ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’. Moto of WHO Academy is ‘Transforming lifelong learning for health impact’. World Bank has a lot of reports published on the importance of lifelong learning. // In the above context, further research was conducted into the management systems and processes that facilitate efficient lifelong learning experience to help the world to develop models that can be easily adopted. It will equip the mankind with capabilities for tackling the present and future challenges of life; especially as the world anticipates tremendous escalation of foreseen and unforeseen challenges due to the cumulative effect of climate change and socio-economic factors. The graduation of learning from the individual level to organization level and broader societal level also studied. The study has been conducted based on the literature available on the internet and the learning from hundreds of capacity building sessions facilitated by the authors over a long period of time. // The study identified learning management strategies that facilitate identification of the right learning path by individuals and preparedness of individuals, organizations and societies to remain proactive and agile are vital factors in promoting lifelong learning for sustainable development.