UK study looks at lifelong learning and new ‘third age’

An independent  British inquiry into the future for lifelong learning has just published a framework on demographic change which outlines key issues likely to apply to Australia as well as the UK.

The paper titled ‘Demography and Lifelong Learning’ shows that normal lifespan is increasing and the population is becoming more diverse which means that people will experience more change in their lifetime than any previous generation.

It suggests that if people are to lead satisfying and productive lives they will need to continue learning through their extended lifespan, constantly build and maintain their employability, and engage effectively with society.

Learning policy should pay more attention to the role of learning in developing social and personal capital; it should better reflect the need for social cohesion; and it should ensure the transmission of knowledge, values, and skills across generations.

The particular challenges for public policy include the development of a ‘third age’ where most people spend a third of their lives in “retirement”, and the need for governments to respond to a more mobile population which can be punctuated by transitions and crises at less predictable points.