An international conference in London will explore whether lifelong learning is another passing fad or an idea that will deliver economic prosperity and social justice.
Delegates will hear from nine leading academics who will present their findings about the subject.
Professor Frank Coffield, from Newcastle University’s education department will chair the conference.
Coffield said: "Lifelong learning has been so seriously under-researched that it seems a rather underdeveloped concept to considered the panacea for all our economic and democratic problems.
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"Fortunately, research evidence is now slowly beginning to challenge the vacuous rhetoric which has for too long dominated conferences on lifelong learning."
By Richard Staines