IIEP Strategic Seminars

Lifelong learning: an empty vessel?

Presented by Dr. Abrar Hassan,
former Head of the Education and Training Policy Division, Directorate for Education, OECD.
Thursday, 10 April 2008 from 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. at IIEP

In 1996, ‘lifelong learning for all’ was adopted by the OECD countries as a guiding strategy for their education sector. The same year, UNESCO supported the lifelong learning approach, though in practice it has opted for an Education for All (EFA) strategy. Despite the wide general support for the concept of lifelong learning, nagging questions remain about the concept, as lifelong learning means all things to all people.

This lecture will raise some of the oft-expressed questions: Is lifelong learning just a good slogan without any credible policy content? If not, what is its added-value? If it does offer policy content, does the strategy have operational feasibility? If the concept adds value and is operationally feasible for the context of the advanced countries, does it have similar value for the developing nations?

Dr. Abrar Hasan’s career has centred on developing policy advice for governments and other stakeholders, in the fields of education, human capital and labour market policies. He recently retired as Head of Education and Training Policy Division (1994-2007), in the Directorate for Education, at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). There he directed a team of analysts for conducting international sector-wide studies for education policy. Dr. Hasan is currently authoring a book on Lifelong Learning: International Trends in Policy and Practice.

For more information, please contact: A. De Grauwe

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