Discussion & Reports
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(2009) AONTAS submission to National Positive Ageing Strategy, Ireland
This submission from AONTAS (The Irish National Adult Learning Organisation) to the National Positive Ageing Strategy focuses on the lifelong learning needs of older people. It makes recommendations in four areas: i) bridging the digital divide; ii) making lifelong learning needs of older people a priority for older people; iii) collaboration between government departments; iv) facilitating the use of the skills and life experience of older people. Case studies and a "Manifesto for Senior Learners" are included.
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(2009) Equity in Education in Central Europe - a country analysis
This report was sponsored and published in 2009 by the Tempus Public Foundation (a Hungarian organisation) with the support of the Hungarian Ministry of Education and the European Commission and within the ministerial framework of cooperation of the Central European Cooperation for Education (CECE). The thematic focus of the project was the identification of the most relevant equity issues at regional level in the context of lifelong learning. Reports on four countries are included in the publication : Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. There is also a thematic overview analysis. The publication stands as a valuable information, statistical and analytic background to discussion of access of older people to learning in central Europe but largely does not discuss the topic directly. However, the Slovak report observes that its education system, while being concerned with equity in access to education and with attempting to contribute to the prevention of social exclusion of groups potentially relegated to the margins of the society, often fails to include seniors and to make allowances for difficulties in older age. Measures promoted for them, it concludes, should encompass training programmes on literacy and basic skills, as well as “second chance” programmes.
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(2009) Making up the Gap: migrant education in the Netherlands
A growing number of young people in the Netherlands have a non-Western ethnic background. Education plays a key role in their integration into Dutch society. Promoting participation in education by these young non-Western migrants and boosting their educational achievement are accordingly high on the Dutch education policy agenda. This report, produced in English, presents an overview of the participation in Dutch education and the learning outcomes of young people with a non-Western ethnic background. It examines the extent to which they succeed in making up the gap relative to their indigenous Dutch peers. It also presents a picture of Dutch education policy for pupils and students with a non-Western ethnic background, and discusses the effects of that policy.
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(2010) Active ageing and the EU Grundtvig Programme
Discusses the last 10 years of the Grundtvig programme, which has supported many projects aimed at promoting active ageing and intergenerational cooperation, and examines what the programme needs to do going forward. It argues that experience of the last decade should be drawn on to identify solutions to barriers to learning and make adult learning opportunities better suited to older people, and that information on Grundtvig initiatives that have contributed to responding to the needs of older people should be disseminated.
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(2010) Active ageing and universities: engaging older learners
Discussion of the need for universities to find ways to adapt to, and support, an ageing population in the UK. The article considers, in particular, 'active ageing' policy, data on older people in higher education, potential responses from higher education to demographic change, and the challenges posed by integrating older learners within universities.
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(2010) Changing of the guard: generations in the Netherlands
Zijn generaties echt zo duidelijk van elkaar te onderscheiden en is er opnieuw, zoals in de jaren zestig, sprake van een generatiekloof? HetSociaal en Cultureel Rapport 2010 brengt eerst in kaart hoe de generaties in gezinnen en families zich ten opzichte van elkaar verhouden. Doen de kinderen het financieel en maatschappelijk beter of juist slechter dan hun ouders? Wat geven ouders hun kinderen mee aan sociaal en cultureel kapitaal? In hoeverre helpen en steunen de generaties in familieverband elkaar?In de publieke discussie gaat het minder om familiale dan om maatschappelijke generaties. Geboortejaargangen die door bepaalde maatschappelijke, politieke en economische ontwikkelingen in de jeugd een specifiek stempel opgedrukt hebben gekregen. Wat zijn in de twintigste eeuw 'formatieve' ervaringen geweest die generaties een eigen karakter hebben gegeven? Wat betekent dat voor henzelf en voor hun verhouding tot generaties voor en na hen? Is er wel een scherpe scheiding tussen de generaties aan te brengen? Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau, Den Haag, 563 pg, ISBN: 978 90 377 0505 8, 2010
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(2010) Learning Through Life: the implications for learning in later life of the NIACE Inquiry
The article discusses implications for learning in later life of the report 'Learning Through Life' (2009) of the independent Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning, established by the UK National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE). The article concerns itself with two pivotal recommendations: 1) lifelong learning policy should be based on a new lifecourse model with four key stages; 2) financial resources should be re-balance fairly and sensibly across these four life stages. It discusses these proposals, including new thinking about a curriculum for learning in the fourth stage (over 75 years).
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(2010) Lifelong Learning and European Educational Policies: tensions and ambiguities in the discourses and practices of states, institutions and individuals
Aprendizagem ao longo da vida e Políticas Educativas Europeias: tensões e ambiguidades nos discursos e nas práticas de estados, instituições e indivíduos, A research project in the field of Educational Sciences with the aim of exploring the theme of lifelong learning in the context of European educational policy - mobilizing various theoretical and conceptual references and trying to build a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of educational change in operation. The authors sought to develop a multi-referenced approach, benefiting from the interplay of the variety of disciplinary perspectives, theoretical-conceptual and methodological, represented in the team of researchers. A retrospective assessment shows that the theoretical-methodological design of the project progressively set up a plural contribution to an understanding of the analytical themes. Plural because it calls for reflection at a multiplicity of levels of analysis; plural as it covers diverse topics and perspectives; and plural by the multifaceted and unfinished character of achievements which, rather than being final conclusions should be understood as exploratory research into educational paths that will need to be consolidated in the near future.Projeto de investigação no domínio das Ciências de Educação, com o objetivo geral de explorar a temática da aprendizagem ao longo da vida no contexto das políticas educativas europeias – mobilizando referências teórico-conceptuais diversas, com a intenção de construir um quadro compreensivo das dinâmicas de mudança educativa em curso. Procurou-se desenvolver uma abordagem multi-referenciada, beneficiando do cruzamento entre uma diversidade de perspetivas disciplinares, teórico-conceptuais e metodológicas presentes na equipa de investigadoras. Um olhar retrospetivo permite evidenciar que a construção teórico-metodológica do projeto foi progressivamente configurando um contributo plural para a compreensão das temáticas em análise. Plural porque convoca para a reflexão uma multiplicidade de níveis de análise; plural no sentido em que abarca perspetivas e temáticas diversas; plural também pelo carácter multifacetado e inacabado dos resultados alcançados os quais, mais do que conclusões finais, devem ser entendidos como explorações de trajetos de pesquisa educativa que importará consolidar num futuro próximo.
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(2010) Making Older People Equal: reforming the law on access to education and other services
This paper critically considers the Equality Act 2010 (UK) and its implications, as well as the proposal for an EU Directive on Goods and Services. It argues that exceptions permitting service providers to discriminate against older people (negative exceptions) should be very specifically set out in the reforming legislation. It argues that service providers should be permitted to discriminate in favour of older people (positive exceptions) if the reason for doing so satisfies legislative criteria which are designed to meet the particular needs of older persons or promote social inclusion. Under this proposal, age-related concessionary fees for adult education courses would be lawful.
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(2011) Frail older persons in the Netherlands
Dit rapport biedt een landelijk beeld van ouderen met meervoudige problematiek die daardoor risico lopen binnen enkele jaren zorgafhankelijk te worden en hun zelfstandigheid te verliezen: wat is kwetsbaarheid in de laatste levensfase en wat kan ouderen daartegen beschermen. Social Cultural Plan Office (SCP), Den Haag, 218 pg, ISBN 978 90 377 0542 3, 2011
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(2011) Information and background material for the formation of the National Programme for Active Ageing. Slovakia
Informatívny a podkladový materiál pre tvorbu Národného programu aktívneho starnutia. Slovakia. This is a wide-ranging and pragmatic background paper of a government expert working group covering all aspects of a national programme for active ageing - "a government policy in relation to the elderly to improve the quality of older people's lives, ensure economic and social security, as well as smooth and happy ageing and old age." It calls for social service organisations to “participate in the creation of appropriate educational programmes for seniors in partnership with the universities of the third age, by organising various lectures in medicine, culture, education according to the interests of older people” and for “ the implementation of special interest educational, cultural and leisure activities for elderly people… [and] the dissemination of good practice in the whole country and training for professionals.” Ide o rozsiahly a pragmatické pozadie papier vládnej expertnej pracovnej skupiny, zahŕňajúce všetky aspekty národného programu pre aktívne starnutie - "predstavuje prezentáciu vládnej politiky vo vztahu k starším obcanom s cielom zlepšit starším ludom kvalitu ich tivota, zabezpecit ekonomickú a sociálnu istotu, ako aj nerušené a spokojné starnutie i starobu do vysokého veku. To volá po sociálnych služieb organizácie "podieľať sa na vytváraní vhodných vzdelávacích programov pre seniorov v spolupráci s univerzitami tretieho veku, prednášky v organizovanie rôznych medicína, kultúra, vzdelávanie v súlade so záujmami starších osôb "a pre" vykonávanie špeciálnych záujmových skupín, vzdelávacie, kultúrne a voľný čas pre seniorov ... [a] šírenia osvedčených postupov v celej krajine a školenia pre profesionálov. "
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(2012) European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations: Proceedings of the Forum held at the Committee of the Regions on 14 February 2012, Brussels
Report of proceedings of the Forum held by the Committee of the Regions on 14 February 2012.Over 200 representatives from local, regional and national administrations, institutions, social services and associations came together at this event to discuss the multilevel governance approach to population ageing and to highlight how local and regional actors can improve the conditions for active ageing. The Forum presented good practice in the three major thematic strands of the European Year 2012: Employment, Participation in Society, and Independent Living. Issued March 2012.
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(2012) Learning for active ageing and intergenerational solidarity: Reports from Conference held 19-21 November 2012, Brussels
The focus of the conference Conference "One Step Up in later life – learning for active ageing and intergenerational solidarity was on developing ideas and orientations for European cooperation in adult learning related to active ageing and intergenerational learning policies, based on an analysis of policy needs and priorities in this area.The conference had c. 200 participants with a strong representation from governmental authorities. The conference resulted in a conference memorandum, which summarises the key messages from the conference workshops
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(2012) Plan for Active Ageing in Brno - Czech Republic
PLÁN AKTIVNÍHO STÁRNUTÍ VE MĚSTĚ BRNĚ - a background paper of the Strategy for Brno, 2012. Argues that ageing population requires that social and cultural activities for older people are necessary part of active ageing and health policy and provision. Includes learning in later life. Pioneering for Czech city strategy.
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(2013) Giving older people a voice: the case for an Older People’s Commissioner for England
This report, edited by former care services minister Rt Hon Paul Burstow MP and published by the think tank CentreForum, calls for England to follow Northern Ireland and Wales and create an Older People’s Commissioner for England to represent and protect the interests of older people in England. It examines the case for such as role in England and provides the Welsh model as a guide to the commissioner's duties and responsibilities. The report recommends that the Care Bill currently moving through Parliament should be amended to enable the role to be constituted with appropriate statutory powers.
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(2013) MASON: MAinstream SOcio-cultural dynamics to enhance National lifelong learning strategies
An extensive comparative study based on analyses of national lifelong learning systems and strategies of Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany and Finland. National reports are appended. The first part of each gives and overview of all formal and informal education and training systems ( legislative frameworks, structure, current LLL strategies) from childhood to later life. The second part gives an overview of issues, particularly between March 2011 and February 2012, case-studies , interviews with LLL stakeholders and SWOT analysis.
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(2013) Ready for Ageing
This report from the House of Lords Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change warns that the UK Government and society are woefully underprepared for ageing. The Committee says that longer lives can be a great benefit, but there has been a collective failure to address the implications and without urgent action this great boon could turn into a series of miserable crises. The report covers a broad range of policy areas, providing a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of an ageing population on public services.
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(2013) Spotlight on Community Learning
Supplement produced by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), April 2013. This supplement focuses on the future of state funded adult and community learning in the UK. It explains the work of BIS-funded providers, including the new Community Learning Trust pilots, and the associated changes for providers of Community Learning that will come into effect from August 2013.
