Revisiting Lifelong Learning for the 21st Century

Although lifelong learning is being increasingly cited as one of the key principles in the fields of education and development, shared understanding of the term's usage at the global level is lacking. Lifelong learning is closely tied to the challenge of openness and the changes with which modern individuals must cope in their lifetimes. Lifelong learning encompasses both continuity (stability) and discontinuity (change) in learned capacities over time as a result of interactions with the manmade environment--in other words, culture. The following strategies may help facilitate lifelong learning, effective cultural exchange, and interactions: (1) starting from the formative years, expose learners to diverse cultural information and experiences; (2) combine foreign language learning programs with culture learning; (3) develop culture learning programs with culture relativity as a main theme; and (4) develop learning indicators for individual learners' cross-cultural competencies. Lifelong learning should appeal to the totality of a person--heart, body, and brain--and more importantly, to our existential values and emotions. Lifelong learning can also deal with the uncertainty and contradictions of life. Lifelong learning should aim to promote the art of human maturity, which is a prerequisite for becoming a good citizen who is actively involved in local, national, and international issues and problems. (Contains 21 references.) (MN)