Hodgson, Ann; (2000) An International and Historical Context for recent policy approached to lifelong learning in the UK. In: Hodgson, Ann, (ed.) Policies, politics and the future of lifelong learning. (pp. 1-20). Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group: London, UK.

Preview

Text Hodgson2000International1.pdf - Accepted Version Download (168kB) | Preview

Abstract

Where has the idea of lifelong learning come from, what does it signify and why has it become such an important aspect of international and national policy discourse? At the beginning of a new millennium, it is perhaps time to take stock and to look back at how the concept of lifelong learning developed towards the end of the twentieth century and to assess its importance in current policy debates. This book suggests that despite its lengthy history, and the fickleness of policy makers, lifelong learning is a concept which does not yet appear to have run its course. Throughout the book, each of the various authors attempts to make sense of and to critique contemporary approaches to lifelong learning within Europe and, more specifically, the UK. In this first chapter I attempt to provide a general international and historical context for other chapters in the book which deal with more specific aspects of lifelong learning policy. I begin by describing briefly how the concept of lifelong learning, which became a topic of international debate in the 1970s, but was effectively put on hold during the 1980s, rose up the political agendas of many countries again over the last decade as a policy response to the type of economic, demographic, cultural and technological changes which became prevalent during that period. In the second part of the chapter, I focus in on the UK through a broad periodisation of policy approaches to lifelong learning in this country over the last thirty years. This is followed by a discussion of the current UK government’s approach to lifelong learning. Here I identify the distinctive features of New Labour’s ‘Third Way’ approach to policy in this area, which has aroused considerable interest internationally as well as nationally. I conclude by suggesting how each of the subsequent chapters in the book might contribute to the debate about the strengths and weaknesses of this approach to lifelong learning.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Archive Staff Only

View Item