European Union Policies on Lifelong Learning: In-between Competitiveness Enhancement and Social Stability Reinforcement

Lifelong Learning as the Future Human Need

“…The neuroscience of consciousness studies are convincing us that consideration of lifelong learning, as "a major component of sustainable economic growth and social cohesion reinforcement" is incomplete [Panitsidou et al, 2012]. Policy papers, which systematize and regulate integration processes in Europe, have been examined in the article European Union Policies on Lifelong Learning: In-between Competitiveness Enhancement and Social Stability Reinforcement [Panitsidou et al, 2012]. However, unfortunately, in considering all the documents, the authors do not specify and do not mention that, in fact, they document only the externals of lifelong learning as culture.…”

Sustainable energy generation and use in SIDS and beyond—introducing the L3EAP online learning approach

“…The Agenda 21 (UNCED 1992) refers explicitly to the relevance of country context and an assessment of local needs for appropriate capacity building action: "Specifically, capacity building encompasses the country's human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities. A fundamental goal of capacity building is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address the crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among development options, based on an understanding of environment potentials and limits and of needs perceived by the people of the country concerned" (Panitsidou et al 2012). This definition implies that any capacity-building action needs to address the target groups' and corresponding location specific needs and demands to build local capacity in a sustainable, appropriate and targeted manner.…”

“…Moreover, the motivation for LLL may be grounded not only in personal, but social and professional reasons as well. It is thus concluded that LLL offers a distinctive social-economic value and has a distributional, stabilizing as well as developmental function (Panitsidou et al 2012). In a development aid context, it could be suggested that LLL activities may thus serve similar functions, but despite an uncontroversial positive correlation between education and earnings, the actual extent to which the former influences the latter is difficult to determine and thus subject to interpretation (Psacharopoulos 1994).…”

“…In a development aid context, it could be suggested that LLL activities may thus serve similar functions, but despite an uncontroversial positive correlation between education and earnings, the actual extent to which the former influences the latter is difficult to determine and thus subject to interpretation (Psacharopoulos 1994). However, some also criticize European education policy and its focus on LLL, claiming that it is rather a slogan for the new millennium and means to pursue various, sometimes conflicting interests, "legitimizing economic imperialism and reduction of welfare services" (Panitsidou et al 2012). Again, translated to a developing context, this leaves a somewhat negative connotation as it may offer an argument for shifting national financial resources to superficially more cost-effective causes such as renewable energy, which implies an image of sustainability.…”

Fixing Europe's Youth Unemployment and Skills Mismatch, Can Public Financial Support to SMEs Be Effective? The Case of the European Commission and European Investment Bank Joint Initiatives

“…Governments' initiatives aim to restore full employment and grant social cohesion (Panitsidou 2012). Consequently most of the initiatives target the least skilled and disadvantaged (Biavaschi et al 2012).…”