Learning
Through Life
Learning Through Life, the main report of the
independent Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning, was
launched on Thursday 17 September
at the RSA in London. It has already sold over 2500 copies
and has been positively received in many quarters.
NIACE is now taking forward the work on Learning Through
Life.
This site will continue to be updated with details of the
remaining supplementary papers - to be published.
For all ongoing activity on Learning Through Life please
visit the NIACE website .
| Paying for Lifelong Learning –
Expenditure paper published - July 2010 This paper on expenditure
on lifelong learning, as well as models for funding
represents a major contribution to building a strong
knowledge base for a strategy for lifelong learning.
The first paper in this volume, by Jenny Williams, the
Inquiry’s Project Manager, now Head of Policy at LSIS, presents
for the first time comprehensive details on the levels of
expenditure on lifelong learning of different kinds. This
includes expenditure by public authorities, private employers,
third sector organisations and private individuals and
households.
Also included is an overview of participation trends by Dr
Fiona Aldridge, Head of Research at NIACE. This draws on
invaluable annual surveys carried out by NIACE to give a sense
of the trends involved, broken down by key variables. With these
two sets of data, combined with original analysis commissioned
from Muriel Egerton, formerly of the Department of Sociology at
the University of Oxford, on time use, has enabled a picture of
the distribution of resources across the life course to be built
- another central feature of Learning Through Life.
The second main component of this paper by Professor Stephen
McNair, Research Fellow at NIACE, discusses how to approach the
funding of lifelong learning. This is a significant contribution
to a debate which often lacks coherence. Drawing on his vast
experience, and with the benefit of an Inquiry consultation
seminar, Professor McNair provides the tools with which the
debate can and should be advanced in the coming years.
Download
Context Paper: Expenditure and funding models in lifelong
learning
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Comments on Learning Through Life:
“The strength of this report is the fact that it recognises
all of the strands that make up lifelong learning: in the
community, in educational institutions, and of course through
the workplace. Crucially, it identifies the major changes
taking place in our society and the challenges they bring in
maintaining functioning communities, and active and effective
citizens.”
Rt Hon David Blunkett MP
“Learning Through Life … is a fundamental and convincing
report about the necessity to finally take the implementation
of Lifelong Learning seriously. The analysis and data in the
report helps the reader to understand the limits of our
present learning and educational models, based on the
principle of learning early on for later life, and the
enormous potential in economic , social ,cultural, and
individual terms of learning through life. The recommendations
in the report … are based upon the UK situation but they are
highly relevant for all OECD countries and many new emerging
economies on the global scene. It will be very difficult for
the political community during the coming decade to ignore the
recommendations in this report.”
Jarl Bengtsson, former head of the Centre for Educational
Research and Innovation at OECD
“This is an excellent report and my party will study it
carefully...we must start to move towards an adult education
system that is more responsive to learners and employers.”
DavidWilletts MP, Shadow Secretary of State for
Universities and Skills
“We believe in equipping people of all ages with the
financial capability skills that enable them to budget, save
and borrow with confidence. More than half of all Citizens
Advice Bureaux now offer financial education sessions in their
local communities, and our aim is that all will do so by 2011.
We welcome the report's pragmatic emphasis on providing the
essential financial skills people need to function in the
modern world. We are pleased to see the report recognises
financial capability as key and we endorse its call for
universal provision.”
David Harker, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice
“A hugely impressive report.”
Mike Baker, The Guardian
“Learning Through Life is a wonderful contribution to the
scholarly and policy literature on life-long learning. Not
only does it bring together cutting edge thinking about
life-long learning from a sociological and human development
perspective but also it offers creative policies and programs
to make life-long learning a reality. Although it's written
for a UK audience, it's applicable to an American audience as
well, and I recommend it highly to scholars and policymakers
in both the UK and U.S. who care about the future of the
capacities of citizens.”
Dr Fay Lomax Cook, Director, Institute for Policy Research,
Professor of Human Development & Social Policy, Northwestern
University, Illinois
“Learning Through Life has been an extremely useful report
that helped me understand the area of adult learning and
identify opportunities to expand personal development across
all the life stages. It has been of critical importance while
working on the dissertation for my masters course.”
Katerina Symiakaki, MA Innovation Management student at
Central Saint Martins
“Learning Through Life makes a number of radical, realistic
and compelling proposals which the WEA believes the UK
Government should seriously consider. I very much welcome the
four-stage model for lifelong learning, and the proposal that
investment of current resources should be rebalanced sensibly
across those stages of life. There is much else for the WEA to
welcome, too, including the recommendation to build a set of
learning entitlements, the framework for a "Citizens'
Curriculum" and reviving local responsibility within national
frameworks.”
Richard Bolsin, WEA General Secretary
“It is an excellent piece of work, combining powerful
analysis and a compelling conceptual framework with solid
policy recommendations.”
Matthew Taylor, RSA’s Chief Executive
To contribute comments, email
lifelonglearninginquiry@niace.org.uk
The Goal
The overall goal of the Inquiry is to offer an authoritative and coherent
strategic framework for lifelong learning in the UK. This will involve:
 | Articulating a broad rational for public and private
investment in lifelong learning;
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 | A re-appraisal of the social and cultural value attached to it
by policy-makers and the public;
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 | Developing new perspectives on policy and practice. |
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Learning Through Life
Summary (English) - [PDF]
Dysgu Gydol Oes
Crynodeb (Cymraeg) - [PDF] |
Order
a copy of Learning Through Life |
Details of
Learning Through Life - [PDF] |
Inquiring Minds: Tom Schuller’s blog |
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News
Age discrimination and education: new insights on
the Equality Bill
Learning Through Life report launched
on 17 September
Education promotes well-being - but too
many over 25's excluded
Two-Tier adult training system needs
urgent reform
Adult Education
'Vital' for All Migrants
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New additions to the website:
Context Paper:
Expenditure and funding models in lifelong learning
Learning from the
Past, by Peter Clyne
Legal Briefing
Paper: Age Discrimination and Education
Sector Paper 9: Family
Learning
Sector Paper 8: Higher
Education
Sector Paper 7: Further
Education
Thematic Paper 6: Poverty
Reduction
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The Inquiry in the Media
On balance, it's time for parity - no matter how it may move things
Times Higher Education, 31 December 2009
Dundee: Learning City event 10 Nov 2009
Go Dundee, November 2009
Education for life
TES, 26 September 2009
Funding
must grow up
TES, 25 September 2009
Report
redefines sector's future
TES, 25 September 2009
Lifelong learning requires investment now in education for older
people
Guardian, 22 September 2009
How do we achieve
a really "lifelong" learning system"
Mature Times, 21 September 2009
A case
for adult learning in all shapes and sizes
TES, 18 September 2009
Report
calls for £3bn for older students
TES, 18 September 2009
Time to abandon wider participation?
Matthew Taylor's Blog, 18 September 2009
National inquiry calls for radical reform of adult learning
People Management, 17 September 2009
Review demands lifetime learning entitlements
NewStart, 17 September 2009
Lifelong learning inquiry findings
Personnel Today, 17 September 2009
Adult education funding must be shifted to older people, says report
UTV, 17 September 2009
Adult education funding must be shifted to older people, says report
Guardian, 17 September 2009
In prison, education is your best route to a better life
Guardian, 17 September 2009
David Willetts' response to NIACE ‘Learning Through Life’ report
David Willett's website, 17 September 2009
Government accused of ignoring need for learning beyond work
TES, 17 September 2009
75 is the new 65: why pensioners should be going back to school
Independent, 17 September 2009
Lifelong learning inquiry proposes radical reforms
Guardian, 15 September 2009
FE's
flexibility offers society a vital safety net
TES, 11 September 2009
Lifelong
learning could save Treasury millions
TES, 11 September 2009
We need an all-age learning contract
Adults Learning, June 2009
Block of ages
Guardian, 9 June 2009
Public
and private sectors diverge on training aims
TES, 29 May 2009
Let’s
open doors to new arrivals and their skills
TES, 24 April 2009
Education voucher bid to help all new arrivals
TES, 24 April 2009
Older people’s education ‘neglected’
Guardian, 20 January 09
New
curriculum needed for longer retirement
TES FE Focus, 23 January 2009
Money,
money, money
Adults Learning, Oct 2008
Guardian to take detailed
look into the Inquiry
Green light for student debate
on environment
The Times Educational Supplement,
11 Jul 2008
Campaign Camp
The Guardian,
12 Feb 2008
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