Themes and questions for a research agenda on lifelong learning

Abstract

In 1996, at a meeting in Brussels, the International Academy of Education appointed a Task Force to identify gaps in the knowledge base of lifelong learning. This chapter is an edited version of the Task Force's report (indexed at TD/INT 61.242) which was previously published in 'Lifelong learning policy and research: proceedings of an international symposium' (indexed at TD/INT 61.241). It provides a basis for further discussions about the questions and priorities for educational research with a lifelong learning perspective and is presented in two parts: the first part looks at the concepts and theories of lifelong learning; the second part covers questions posed to educational research concerning both specific sectors of provision as well as major themes which are relevant to all sectors. The author concludes that there is no single, ideally structured system of lifelong learning that will suit all countries and types of economies and consequently no uniform implementation strategy that can be followed by all countries.