About

Contemporary society asks from its citizens to learn across the lifespan. This is the case in developing countries where people may have missed out on education and have to learn to read and write at an advanced age. And it is also the case in more well off countries such as the Netherlands, where people have to keep up with changing demands in the labour market and in society as a whole. This reality is reflected in Sustainable Development Goal 4, which reads: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The implementation of this goal is a challenge that requires creativity in terms of organisation and supervision. Activities of the lifelong learning group include research on appropriate ways to attract people to engage in lifelong learning and meet their learning needs.

The group consists of researchers and lecturers based in Globalisation Studies Groningen (inter-faculty institute) and in Pedagogics (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences). Through the network Youth, Education and Work we have international contacts in Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sudan, Colombia, Israel, UK, and USA, which allows us to conduct joint research, co-author articles and organise international conferences and summer schools.