Call for evidence: the impact of lifelong learning on happiness and well-being

The independent commission of inquiry into the future for lifelong learning, chaired by Sir David Watson, was launched on 25 September 2007 and will report in Spring 2009. During the NIACE-sponsored inquiry, experts from government, business, academia, trade unions, public service, providers and the voluntary and community sector, as well as learners, will come together in a process to identify a broad consensus for the future direction of adult learning policy in the UK.

The inquiry will look at the critical issues that will face our society in coming decades, and identify how adult learning can equip us to meet these challenges. Eight key themes have been identified to provide a focus for the work, around which we will be issuing a number of calls for evidence. At present we are calling for evidence on the relationship between lifelong learning and happiness and well-being.

Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Commission. The closing date for evidence was 12th February 2008.

We know a great deal about the economic impact of lifelong learning. Broadly stated, societies that actively promote lifelong learning tend to prosper economically and are able to cope well with innovation and change. Individuals who develop their skills and knowledge, and acquire new qualifications, are likely to be rewarded through higher incomes. While our knowledge of these economic relationships is far from complete, we know far less about how lifelong learning affects people’s happiness and mental well-being.

In particular, the Commission invites evidence on the following areas:

In addition we welcome evidence on any area relevant to the work of the Inquiry. This evidence can be submitted at any stage, however please indicate that it is not linked to a particular call.

Written evidence

This is a public call for evidence. Recipients of this notice are encouraged to draw it to the attention of others who may wish to submit evidence to the Inquiry.

At this stage we take a broad view of what constitutes evidence. It might include research evidence; information about your organisation/learning provision; or personal or organisational experience or views about the issues connected with this theme etc. It would be helpful, however, if you could indicate what sort of evidence you are submitting.

Evidence submitted become the property of the Commission, and may be printed or circulated by the Commission at any stage. Personal contact details supplied to the Commission will, however, be removed before publication. If you do not wish for your submission to be made public, please state this clearly at the start of your submission.

Witnesses may publicise their written evidence themselves, but in doing so should indicate that it was prepared for the Commission.

Submissions by email are preferred (as attachments in Word) and should be emailed to lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk. Unless submissions are short, they should be accompanied by a summary outlining the key points.

Please ensure that you include your relevant contact details. Evidence should be attributed and dated, with a note of your name and position, and should state whether it is submitted on an individual or corporate basis. Please indicate clearly that the evidence is being submitted in response to the call for evidence around adult learning and happiness and well-being

Evidence should be submitted to:

Fiona Aldridge
NIACE
21 De Montfort Street
Leicester LE1 7GE
Email: lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk

Further information about the Commission of Inquiry is available from www.lifelonglearninginquiry.org.uk

For more information about the Inquiry, please contact:
Fiona Aldridge, 0116 2044246 or Helen Plant, 0116 2859668
Email: lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk

For further information, the media contact is:
Ed Melia, 0116 2230050/07795 358870
Email: Ed.Melia@niace.org.uk

Commission Membership

The Chair of the Commission is Professor Sir David Watson, historian and Professor of higher education management at the Institute of Education, University of London and a member of the Board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

The members are: