In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Embracing life-long learning

(University World News) Europe's universities have decided to increase their program offerings for lifelong learning with the launch of the European Universities' Charter for Lifelong Learning. The charter was issued by the European Universities Association at its meeting at Erasmus University in Rotterdam last week. The association wants universities to take more of a leadership role in information technology by 2010.

1.

The Lifelong Learning Plan

Yorkville University
The Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) at Yorkville University allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 in a calendar year from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for you, or your spouse or common-law partner. As long as you meet the LLP conditions every year, you can withdraw amounts from your RRSPs until January of the fourth year after you make your first LLP withdrawal. You cannot withdraw more than $20,000 in total.

2.

UW Odyssey Project

Odyssey Project
The University of Wisconsin Odyssey Project helps disadvantaged people to start college and have courses, books and even child care covered.  The program is an interdisciplinary course in the humanities that teaches writing and critical thinking skills through great works of literature, American history, moral philosophy. It also includes art history and exposure to performances in music and theatre. Students successfully completing the two-semester course earn six UW credits.

3.

Baby boomers and seniors embrace lifelong learning

About.com
Campus Continuum, a developer of campus-based housing for adults age 55 and older, created a survey to gauge older people's interest in the concept of living in “a community of active life-long learners affiliated with an academic institution.” The company plans to use the survey results to determine future sites for lifelong learning communities. The survey of 233 adults age 55-75 found that many respondents are interested in lifelong learning, and that small college towns are especially appealing in retirement years. It was determined that 62 per cent of respondents would be “very interested” in lifelong learning, which included taking courses with traditional college students.

4.

More embrace lifelong learning

The Arizona Republic
More than 1,000 students are enrolled  at the Arizona State University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's lifelong-learning short courses, workshops and lectures for adults 50 and older. Only 150 students participated when the program began seven years ago. The programs give older adults the opportunity to explore new interests and connect with like-minded people. Classes are offered at community colleges and other sites. Program director Rebecca Bond said people 50 and older are interested in university-level courses. But she said sometimes there are barriers to taking courses at a university campus, such as registration difficulties and parking issues, she said.

5.

Learning for life: Sir John Daniel’s journey through academia

Canadian Council on Learning
To many in the education field, Sir John Daniel's name has become synonymous with lifelong learning. Over his nearly fifty-year career he has been the Assistant Director-General for Education at the Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, held posts at more than a half-dozen universities in Canada and Europe, including the presidency of Laurentian University.  He is currently the president and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, a Vancouver-based organization that promotes technology as a way of boosting educational opportunities for developing countries.