Results of International Research into Lifelong Learning Presented
A conference titled "Do Three Sides Always Make a Triangle? Policy,
Institutions and Learners in Lifelong Formal Learning" took place on
February 7–8 at the University of Leuven in Belgium. The results of an
extensive research project managed by the first Estonian social scientist
were presented at this conference. The research project was supported by
the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union.This was the final
conference of the research project, Lifelong Learning 2010 (LLL2010) and
was coordinated by Ellu Saar, Professor of Social Stratification at Tallinn
University. The aim of the project was to highlight the role of the
education system in the development of a society based on lifelong
learning, because degree studies often tend to be secondary when talking
about adult education. The research project involved thirteen European
countries, seven of which were post-Soviet. Rarely has the European Union
co-financed a research project with such scope to be initiated by
scientists from a post-Soviet country.Professor Ellu Saar commented,
"During the agreement negotiations in 2004, the representatives of the
European Commission emphasised repeatedly that they were taking a serious
risk with this project. My experience also shows that, in parallel with our
project, the skills for managing such projects in our universities are
still being developed. At the same time, it is extremely important to
involve Estonia and other post-Soviet countries in the communication of
science of the EU, because the understanding of a society and its
regularities remains inadequate without taking into account the
circumstances of these countries."Within the framework of this project,
studies were carried out in the countries which participated and, as a
result, unique data-sets were developed. These data-sets give a better
understanding of adults who return to degree studies including their
motives, attitudes, judgements and problems in acquiring primary,
compulsory, secondary or higher education. Different aspects of lifelong
learning were analysed and, in addition to the learners, the attitudes and
strategies of schools, education officers and entrepreneurs towards the
so-called non-traditional learners were explored. Policies influencing
adult education and other institutional factors were also
discussed.Professor Ellu Saar added, "The results of our research have
several important messages to both the international community as well as
the Estonian public. First and foremost, the research results might be of
interest to the specialists and politicians in the fields of educational,
social, entrepreneurial, economic and innovation policies. Until now, the
results have been presented to scientific audiences, as well as policy
makers both in the European Union and in participating countries. The
Estonian public will learn about the results of the research through an
initiative of Tallinn University during the spring."For more information
about the project and the conference held at the University of Leuven,
visit http://lll2010.tlu.ee.
Institutions and Learners in Lifelong Formal Learning" took place on
February 7–8 at the University of Leuven in Belgium. The results of an
extensive research project managed by the first Estonian social scientist
were presented at this conference. The research project was supported by
the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union.This was the final
conference of the research project, Lifelong Learning 2010 (LLL2010) and
was coordinated by Ellu Saar, Professor of Social Stratification at Tallinn
University. The aim of the project was to highlight the role of the
education system in the development of a society based on lifelong
learning, because degree studies often tend to be secondary when talking
about adult education. The research project involved thirteen European
countries, seven of which were post-Soviet. Rarely has the European Union
co-financed a research project with such scope to be initiated by
scientists from a post-Soviet country.Professor Ellu Saar commented,
"During the agreement negotiations in 2004, the representatives of the
European Commission emphasised repeatedly that they were taking a serious
risk with this project. My experience also shows that, in parallel with our
project, the skills for managing such projects in our universities are
still being developed. At the same time, it is extremely important to
involve Estonia and other post-Soviet countries in the communication of
science of the EU, because the understanding of a society and its
regularities remains inadequate without taking into account the
circumstances of these countries."Within the framework of this project,
studies were carried out in the countries which participated and, as a
result, unique data-sets were developed. These data-sets give a better
understanding of adults who return to degree studies including their
motives, attitudes, judgements and problems in acquiring primary,
compulsory, secondary or higher education. Different aspects of lifelong
learning were analysed and, in addition to the learners, the attitudes and
strategies of schools, education officers and entrepreneurs towards the
so-called non-traditional learners were explored. Policies influencing
adult education and other institutional factors were also
discussed.Professor Ellu Saar added, "The results of our research have
several important messages to both the international community as well as
the Estonian public. First and foremost, the research results might be of
interest to the specialists and politicians in the fields of educational,
social, entrepreneurial, economic and innovation policies. Until now, the
results have been presented to scientific audiences, as well as policy
makers both in the European Union and in participating countries. The
Estonian public will learn about the results of the research through an
initiative of Tallinn University during the spring."For more information
about the project and the conference held at the University of Leuven,
visit http://lll2010.tlu.ee.