EDUCATION
LIFELONG LEARNING
‘ COMMIT YOURSELF TO LIFELONG LEARNING . THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET YOU ’ LL EVER HAVE IS YOUR MIND AND WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT .’ BRIAN TRACY
© Alexis Brown © Andy Kelly
© Clay Banks
This is a philosophy Canadian-American motivational public speaker and self-development author Brian Tracy has stood by in over 80 of his published guides and books . The fundamental idea behind ‘ lifelong learning ’ itself , is the self-motivated process of pursuing knowledge for both personal and professional reasons . Studies have found that not only does it enhance social inclusion , active citizenship and individual development , but also increases competitiveness and employability making lifelong learning one of the most important and popular concepts within UK society today . According to sociologists Haydar Ates and Kadir Alsal of Hacettepe University , the importance of lifelong learning has been increasing over the past few decades for some significant reasons : ‘ Extended life expectancy alongside the desire for bettering the quality of life , which includes the need for humans to keep themselves in good physical and mental condition ,’ has meant that lifelong learning has become more common in communities across the globe , with overall opinion for the concept held in much higher regard than twenty years previously .
Lifelong learning goes past the confines of school and compulsory education . While most of us finish school at 18 and may go on to study at university , take an apprenticeship or advance our skills at college before joining the world of work full time , lifelong learning is , as its name suggests , for life . Pursuing additional education and developing further abilities beyond school is generally voluntary and selfmotivated ; based on a desire to learn more , gain new skills or support professional development to further oneself in a career they enjoy – personal fulfilment and pleasure usually takes precedence over mandatory learning . Lifelong learning is said to incorporate more informal and optional fields , which are based more on personal interests , with everything from learning to play an instrument , discovering a new language and immersing oneself in creative classes such as pottery and still life , being hugely popular choices . Studies have shown that lifelong learning not only allows the individual to develop skills and knowledge but also has an immensely positive impact on mental health , responsible for feelings of motivation , self-fulfilment , self-purpose and the widening of social circles .
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