Universities’ Engagement in and with Society - The ULLL contribution

The 43rd EUCEN European Conference takes up two major aspects of University Lifelong Learning (ULLL): its diversity (the "lifewide" dimension) and its potential for providing learning opportunities throughout one’s life (the "lifelong" dimension).
ULLL in all its diversity...
Universities all over Europe are at present intensively developing institutional strategies for Lifelong Learning, thus progressing to a Lifelong Learning University. All the individual strategic development processes and the results of European strategic projects supporting universities show clearly that there is no single definition or approach to University Lifelong Learning and that the concept covers a wide range of activities. Best and good practices also demonstrate that this diversity is positive because it allows institutions to find their own answer, at institutional and regional level embedded in an international university environment, to positioning themselves when it comes to ULLL. EUCEN developed a wide definition for ULLL which is more an encouragement for an institution’s development than a definition in the traditional sense:
"ULLL is the provision by higher education institutions of learning opportunities, services and research for: the personal and professional development of a wide range of individuals – lifelong and lifewide; and the social, cultural and economic development of communities and the region. It is at university level and research-based; it focuses primarily on the needs of the learners; and it is often developed and/or provided in collaboration with stakeholders and external actors." (EUCEN BeFlex Project)
With this 43rd EUCEN European Conference we would like to offer an open and stimulating forum for practitioners, policy makers and researchers. We will explore this wide spectrum of contributions University Lifelong Learning is making to societal development. We will look at the contribution ULLL is making to stimulate and accompany innovative processes in regional business and industry, in NGOs, and in the public sector. We will also look at the contribution ULLL is making to Civil Society in a more general sense, providing learning opportunities for individuals and groups for active citizenship and community development, aiming at a democratic development in our societies. Developing ULLL successfully means that more and more "new faces" are knocking at the doors of Higher Education – learners who were usually not considering Higher Education but pursuing other educational and professional paths. As institutions we need to look at how welcoming we really are – marketing is not enough. What do we do with these "new learners"? How can we support them efficiently and effectively?
Universities as "learning spaces" throughout one’s life...
2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity promoted by the European Commission and other stakeholders; it is intended to raise awareness, identify and disseminate good practice and to encourage policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing. Within the framework of this conference, we would like to look more closely into this topic by exploring the role of ULLL in individual wellbeing, civic engagement and second careers in later life. Here Higher Education Institutions need to act in a responsible way to include all groups of society and encourage older people to take an active part in society in all areas. However, it is our sincere opinion that the future challenge is "mainstreaming ageing" – learning in later life is not only referring to learning after retirement, but also to people still in employment who want to actively shape their career at a later stage. As ULLL institutions we need to develop new learning opportunities for this group. This is not only to support those wishing to pursue individual career paths, but it is a necessity in view of the decreasing labour force within the next decades in almost all our European countries.
Within the broad theme of "Universities’ Engagement in and with Society. The ULLL contribution", the conference will address the following topics:
TOPIC 1: Innovation in regional business and industry, NGOs and the public sector – the role of ULLL (PDF Document)
TOPIC 2: Community-based education and learning as part of ULLL (PDF Document)
TOPIC 3: An ageing Europe and the role of ULLL (PDF Document)
TOPIC 4: Supporting the individual learner in ULLL (PDF Document)
The objectives of the conference are to:
- provide participants from practice, policy development and research with the opportunity to explore the whole range of diversity in University Lifelong Learning;
- share research results and best practice;
- prepare and discuss recommendations on policy, research and practice for universities and other Higher Education Institutions in Europe, ULLL stakeholders including the European Commission as well as other organisations at national, European and international level.
See also EUCEN 42nd Conference Bridging the gaps between learning pathways: the role of universities,
EUCEN 41st Conference Education as a right - LLL for all,
EUCEN 40th Conference From Rhetoric to Reality,
39th EUCEN Conference Lifelong Learning for the New Decade,
38th EUCEN Conference Quality and Innovation in Lifelong Learning - meeting the individual demands,
37th EUCEN European Conference Recommendations for universities,
36th EUCEN Conference University Lifelong Learning: Synergy between partners,
Founding Meeting: UCE Collaboration & Development- England 4-5 May 1991 - Bristol
Promoting Active Citizenship in Europe- Scotland 5-8 June 2008 - Edinburgh
The University as an International and Regional Actor- Germany 29 November- 1 December 2007 - Hannover
ULLL & the Bologna Process: From Bologna to London...- Slovenia 15-17 March 2007 - Ljubljana
32nd EUCEN Symposium/4º Project Forum. France 16-18 November 2006 - Paris
Universities as a driver for regional development - Poland 18-20 May 2006 - Gdynia
30th EUCEN Symposium - 3rd EUCEN Project Forum- Italy 17-19 November 2005 - Rome
From Bologna to Bergen and Beyond- Norway 28-30 April 2005 - Bergen
28th EUCEN Symposium - 2nd EUCEN Project Forum- Lithuania 4-6 November 2004 - Kaunas
Developing Learning Regions "Thoughts to Actions"- Ireland 9-12 June 2004 - Limerick

26th EUCEN Symposium - 1st EUCEN Project Forum- Portugal 6-9 November 2003 - Aveiro

Accrediting LLL: Classroom, workplace or...life?- Czech Republic- 14-17 May 2003 - Brno

E-learning, Co-operative Learning & Co.- Austria 17-19 October 2002 - Vienna

Teachers, Facilitatiors, Mentors or Managers?- Hungary 15-18 May 2002 - Pécs

Professional and Institutional Development in CE- Italy 25-28 October 2001 - Chieti

Building a network world: World networking in continuing education- Spain 16-19 May 2001 - Barcelona

Equality - Quality in University Continuing Education- England 12-15 October 2000 - London

Death and Re-birth of University Education- Norway 4-5 May 2000 - Bergen

Changing Work and Education Needs- Finland 1-4 December 1999 - Joensuu

Learning from Each Other: European Dimension of UCE- Iceland 24-27 June 1999 - Reykjavik

LLL: Links between Western and Central Europe- Poland 7-9 October 1998 - Warsaw

Pedagogics and Practice in Lifelong Learning- Sweden 13-16 May 1998 - Örebro

Encouring Creativity and Innovation in University CE- Ireland 17-19 October 1997 - Dublin

Competition & Cooperation in UCE- Switzerland 2-5 April 1997 - Lausanne

University Continuing Education and Professions- Italy 11-13 October 1996 - Catania

Good Practice in Open and Distance Learning- France 27-30 March 1996 - Nantes

University CE - Meeting the needs of the Region- Belgium 26-29 October 1995 - Kortrijk

The Funding of Univeristy Continuing Education- Scotland 19-23 April 1995 - Glasgow

Using Multimedia Methods in University CE- Greece 21-23 October 1994 - Olympia

Implementing High Quality UCE- Finland 2-3 June 1994 - Helsinki

Motivating Academia for UCE- Portugal 28 October-1 November 1993 - Porto

UCE in Spain and Europe- Spain 13-16 May 1993 - Barcelona

Universities' Future Role in CE- Netherlands 23-25 October 1992 - Leiden

Practical Aspects of European UCE- Belgium 15-17 May 1992 - Liège

Conditions and Prespectives of UCE- Germany 15-17 November 1991 - Hannover