Skip to main content
European Commission logo
Expert Network on Economics and Sociology of Education and Training (ENESET)
  • General publications

Community based lifelong learning centres: developing a European strategy informed by international evidence and research

This paper seeks to examine strategies for establishing community based lifelong learning centres in EU member states.

Details

Publication date
30 June 2011
Author
Network of Experts on the Social dimension of Education and Training (NESET)
Geographical scope
  • European Union
Level of education focus
  • Adult education
  • Non-formal and informal learning
Thematic areas covered
  • Educational attainment and participation in education
  • Educational effectiveness and efficiency
  • Governance of education
  • Investment in education, economic impact of education
  • Lifelong learning
  • Monitoring and quality assurance
  • Quality and inclusive education for all
  • Skills development
  • Whole-school and whole-system approaches and partnerships in education

Description

This paper seeks to examine strategies for establishing community based lifelong learning centres in EU member states. 

It explores evidence and research on the benefits and advantages of such centres, as well as the barriers and difficulties impeding both the establishment and effectiveness of it. 

As part of developing a strategy for such community lifelong centres, an important focus is on supportive conditions for their effectiveness, rather than a deterministic assumption of their inevitable effectiveness. Though the main focus on such centres is in relation to nonformal education, their scope will be seen to include not only potential bridges to formal education but also opportunities for synergy between nonformal and formal education pathways even in the same location. 

The scope of this paper will also acknowledge the lifewide dimension to lifelong learning, often neglected, in relation to such community lifelong learning centres.

Author

Paul Downes

Cite as

Paul Downes (2011). 'Community Based Lifelong Learning Centres: Developing a European Strategy Informed by International Evidence and Research', NESET Research Paper

Cover

Files

  • 30 JUNE 2011
Community based lifelong learning centres: developing a European strategy informed by international evidence and research