Lifelong Learning

Extracted Attributes

• Benefits

  Employability, social inclusion, active citizenship, personal development

• Definition

  Ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons

• Facilitators

  Lifelong learning institutes, informal learning communities, universities

• Primary Drivers

  AI Transformation, Pace of Innovation, Job Market Disruption

• Core Human Skills

  Creativity, Leadership, Resilience

• Professional Requirement

  Prerequisite for maintaining licensure in many licensed professions

Timeline

• Lifelong learning is integrated into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 framework. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2015-09-25

• The launch of ChatGPT triggers an unprecedented pace of innovation, increasing the urgency for lifelong learning. (Source: Document c08935b9-87d2-439d-a5ee-c1b4d7dc4dcf)

  2022-11-30

• At CES 2026, industry leaders declare lifelong learning a necessary paradigm to survive the AI-driven workforce transformation. (Source: Document c08935b9-87d2-439d-a5ee-c1b4d7dc4dcf)

  2026-01-05

Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning is the "ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of learning for either personal or professional reasons. Lifelong learning is important for an individual's competitiveness and employability. Furthermore, it enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development. Professions generally acknowledge the importance of developing practitioners as lifelong learners. In the case of many licensed professions, the ongoing pursuit of professional development is a prerequisite for maintaining licensure. Lifelong learning institutes are educational organisations that are specifically designed for the purpose of facilitating lifelong learning. Informal lifelong learning communities also exist around the world.

Web Search Results

• 4 reasons lifelong learning can transform your 2026

  ## What is lifelong learning? Lifelong learning is the ongoing, self-driven pursuit of knowledge — both inside and outside traditional academic settings. It can mean reading books, earning a degree, taking online courses, joining professional organizations, completing co-ops or internships, or learning a new skill purely out of interest. In a world shaped by rapid technological change, continuing to learn isn’t just helpful. It’s essential. ### 1. Lifelong learning helps you grow personally and professionally You can keep your brain healthy and alert by learning new skills or taking a continuing education class at the University of Cincinnati. [...] Students often begin lifelong learning through exploration: joining organizations, studying beyond the required curriculum and connecting with mentors. These experiences help you discover interests, build networks, and prepare for your career. Working professionals lean on lifelong learning to sharpen their skills, pursue promotions, switch industries or keep up with new technologies. Online programs, microcredentials, workshops and continuing education courses make it easier than ever to stay current. No matter where you are in your journey, learning is the path to growth. ### How to start your lifelong learning journey Lifelong learning doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It starts with curiosity. [...] Whether you’re learning a new language, exploring the arts or strengthening your academic skills, the process of learning itself can be energizing and grounding. ### 4. It helps you stay future-ready in a changing world Technology is evolving faster than ever — especially with advances in artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven tools. Lifelong learners stay open to new ideas and ready to grow along with them. This adaptability helps you future-proof your career and respond confidently to new opportunities. Students and professionals who embrace continuous learning are better prepared for the future of work. ## Lifelong learning for students and working professionals

• Importance of Lifelong Learning for Professional ...

  Everything changed when I met a few great leaders early in my career that stressed the importance of self-development and continuous improvement. I saw first-hand how their discipline impacted their careers. Knowing that I had big goals and wanted to go far, I wanted to make this a habit myself and made the decision to become a lifelong learner. ## What is Lifelong Learning? Lifelong learning is the ongoing pursuit of knowledge and skills to improve one's personal and professional development. It is a mindset that encourages individuals to continuously seek new career opportunities for growth and development. This ongoing learning and development is not limited to formal education; it includes informal and experiential learning opportunities. [...] ## How Lifelong Learning Can Help Your Career Research has shown that being a lifelong learner can benefit an individual's career development. Employees who continuously learn and develop new skills are better equipped to adapt to change and are more likely to be promoted. Furthermore, a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that those who have a degree or certification in a high-demand field are more likely to be employed and have higher earnings. In today's fast-paced, ever-changing job market, the ability to continuously learn and adapt is essential for success. By developing the trait and habits of a lifelong learner, individuals can navigate their careers with confidence and stay ahead of their competition. [...] Being a lifelong learner is essential for personal and professional development. It helps to have a good set of skills, knowledge and attitude that are aligned with the current market trends. It is important to stay curious, open-minded, self-motivated, self-directed, persistent, flexible and reflective in order to be successful in today's job market. Explore Job Opportunities ## How Do You Become a Lifelong Learner? Understanding the habits of lifelong learners and embracing changes in your approach to learning are great places to start on your development journey. Here are a few lifelong learning habits to help you get started: ### Become an Avid Reader

• Lifelong learning - Wikipedia

  Lifelong learning has been described as a process that includes people learning in different contexts. These environments do not only include schools but also homes, workplaces, and locations where people pursue leisure activities. However, while the learning process can be applied to learners of all ages, there is a focus on adults who are returning to organized learning. There are programs based on its framework that address the different needs of learners, such as United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4 and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, which caters to the needs of the disadvantaged and marginalized learners. [...] Formal administrative units devoted to lifelong learning exist in a number of universities. For example, the 'Academy of Lifelong Learning' is an administrative unit at the University of Delaware. Another example is the Jagiellonian University Extension (Wszechnica Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego), which is one of the most comprehensive Polish centers for lifelong learning (open learning, organizational learning, community learning). In recent years, 'lifelong learning' has been adopted in the UK as an umbrella term for post-compulsory education that falls outside of the UK higher education system—further education, community education, work-based learning and similar voluntary, public sector and commercial settings. [...] ## Definition [edit] Lifelong learning has been defined as "all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective". It is often considered learning that occurs after the formal education years of childhood and into adulthood. It is sought out naturally through life experiences as the learner seeks to gain knowledge for professional or personal reasons. These natural experiences can come about on purpose or accidentally.

• Lifelong Learning: Meaning, Importance, Benefits & ...

  Skip to content Valamis # Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that is focused on personal development. More popular than ever now, what are the benefits? Ivan Andreev Demand Generation & Capture Strategist, Valamis LinkedIn 8 minute read Discover: Definition of lifelong learning Why lifelong learning is important Examples of lifelong learning Benefits of lifelong learning Organizational lifelong learning How to adopt lifelong learning in your life? ## What is a lifelong learning Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that is focused on personal development. [...] Thanks to the fast pace of today’s knowledge economy, organizations are seeing lifelong learning as a core component in employee development. The idea is that employees should engage in constant personal learning in order to be adaptable and flexible for the organization to stay competitive and relevant. This type of personal learning is often referred to as continuous learning. You can read more about continuous learning and what it means for both the employee and employer here. According to some researchers, however, there is criticism that organizations are leveraging the concept of lifelong learning in order to place the responsibility of learning on employees instead of offering the resources, support and training needed to foster this kind of workforce. [...] These are examples of the everyday lifelong learning we engage in on a daily basis, either through socialization, trial and error, or self-initiated study. Personal fulfillment and development refer to natural interests, curiosity, and motivations that lead us to learn new things. We learn for ourselves, not for someone else. ### Key checklist for lifelong learning: Voluntary Self-motivated or self-initiated Doesn’t always require a cost Often informal Self-taught or instruction that is sought Motivation is out of personal interest or personal development ## The definitive guide to microlearning The what, why, and how-to guide to inject microlearning into your company. DOWNLOAD GUIDE ## Examples of lifelong learning

• Lifelong Learning: What It Is and Why It Matters | JWU Online

  ## Celebrating Success as a Lifelong Learner When you really boil down the idea of lifelong learning, it’s easy to recognize that everybody is a lifelong learner. Whether you’re learning to use a new-to-you technology or pursuing an advanced degree, it’s thanks to an innate, human curiosity and desire to learn. When we embrace that curiosity with a positive attitude, we open ourselves to a growth mindset that can be genuinely life-changing. [...] ## Practical Habits to Foster Lifelong Learning Wondering how you can pursue a lifetime of learning while balancing the demands of personal and professional life? Here are a few strategies to keep in mind: ## Mentors and Lifelong Learning Finally, it never hurts to have a mentor you can rely on for guidance and motivation along your lifelong learning journey. This could be a personal or professional mentor, as long as it’s someone you can trust to provide sound advice and encourage you to always do better. A mentor can also help you stay accountable on your path to learning new things. ## Celebrating Success as a Lifelong Learner [...] So, what exactly does the concept of lifelong learning mean, and why does it matter? With a better understanding of what lifelong learning entails and the many benefits it can offer, perhaps you could find greater motivation to acquire new knowledge or skills in the coming year. ## What Is Lifelong Learning? While there is no universal definition of lifelong learning, this generally refers to the concept that there is always something new to be learned—regardless of whether it’s for personal fulfillment or professional development and career advancement. The idea behind lifelong learning is that, even once your days of formal education are complete, it’s worthwhile to pursue more knowledge and skills with each passing year.

• Instance Of

  Q5633421