Abstract:

Lifelong learning is an important social and political issue in recent years but also plays an important role towards the future. Despite technological evolution, it is not always easy to realize education programmes customized for the target group of lifelong learning. The working population has several needs: some need to delve into knowledge to become experts, others want to expand their knowledge and some may be interested in reorient themselves.

University College Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) has been focusing and still focuses on different trajectories and (research) projects that (should) bring more insight into the opportunities of 'Lifelong Learning'.

One of these projects gives shape to the vision of Lifelong Learning for the college and starts from the shop floor. Through 3 different educational development teams, input is gathered to arrive at a supported whole. It became clear that Vocational Active Learners have a different approach to life than generation students. That is why the education and training on offer for vocationally active learners differs from the offer for generation students (e.g. in the form of evening classes, modular education or distance learning). It is precisely for these lifelong active learners that, partly based on the experiences and findings of the three teams, we have a flexible and tailored offering that meets the needs and wishes of the lifelong learner. It became clear from the cases that setting up sustainable lifelong learning pathways sets a lot in motion in the college.

Another ongoing project shows that learners (can) benefit from a coaching trajectory that strongly focuses on the further development of the learners' learning career competences. To shape this pathway, we make use of a model developed by Prof. Marinka Kuijpers. We explore together with the learner his/her own motives and qualities, find out which job or study fits with the learner's own values and standards, help create a learning network for lifelong learners and as a college we very consciously help expand the learner's network. Together, we find out what the learner needs and how he/she can grow in this as a function of his/her learning career.

The opportunity for involvement and participation for each individual, within our college is of utmost importance to develop and implement a supported and valuable vision and pathways. That is why we always focus on collecting stories from the workplace and the lifelong learners themselves. The shared experiences are not only sources of inspiration, but are also the common thread in all communication we do about lifelong learning. In this way we work appreciatively towards all the colleagues involved, we ensure that the new vision on lifelong learning is supported at all levels of UCLL and we are alert from the start for all barriers that we encounter in the daily practice of education offer to lifelong learners.

Keywords:

Lifelong Learning, vision development, education-development teams, learning career counseling, higher education institution.