Innovations in Lifelong Learning: Critical Perspectives on Diversity, Participation and Vocational Learning

This book opens up ways to engage critically with what counts as innovatory practice in lifelong learning today, locating its discussion of innovations in lifelong learning within an international and comparative framework.

Innovations in Lifelong Learning engages first hand with issues and concerns from around the globe, offering an international perspective on current trends through its range of contributions from across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US. The broad focus allows for diverse information on the nature of these changes to come together under an assortment of empirical, theoretical and methodological approaches.

The book takes three key elements of lifelong learning:

• learning communities
• participation and non-participation
• work-based learning and learning through work.

It links these with themes on diversity, social justice and economic and global development so as to negotiate and re-negotiate the constant importance of innovation with employers, learners and educational institutions.

All those working in the broad arena of lifelong learning will benefit from this comprehensive examination of current debates in the field, including policy-makers, researchers, teachers, lecturers, educational managers and employers engaged with work-based learning.

Sue Jackson is a Professor of Lifelong Learning and Gender and Director of Birkbeck Institute for Lifelong Learning at Birkbeck, University of London, UK.