LIFELONG LEARNING IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION.

• Author: Chisega-Negrila, Ana-maria
• Position: Report

1. Introduction

   Information society has a fast-moving pace and involves continuous change and flexibility for both people and organizations. In this respect, the pressure of making choices related to aspects of life is on people as individualism is an important gain of modern times. Learning and education have also evolved into forms that are far from the traditional ones and are in concord with the changes in society. Globalization involves free access to information and bridging cultural differences, but it also means confronting with new challenges in terms of global environment. On the other hand, the growing individualism of modern societies involves that people are alone in the face of problems.

   According to Bauman (1995), relationships in the 21st century are more based on mutual understanding and thus, people get involved in relations from which both parts benefit. However, such an arrangement is very precarious as it is only based on a certain interest at a certain period of time. Therefore, both globalization and individualism force people to become more competitive, gain more knowledge and be better prepared for whatever their personal life and workplace may demand of them. In this context, lifelong learning comes to supplement the need to be competitive and is increasingly regarded as a must in modern society.

   There are even more factors that drive people towards lifelong learning. One is competitiveness and the need to be functional for long periods of time. As life expectancy has increased over the years, people have to face changes in their workplace several times during their lives. They may have to become itinerant due to shortage of available positions, or may have to move so that they will obtain more substantial gains.

   Another factor that drives the need to improve is that certain professions may become redundant or extinct over one person's lifetime. It is difficult to change one's profession and because of that lifelong learning becomes extremely attractive. Therefore, people's interest in lifelong learning is based on their need to keep abreast to the latest in their field, but it is also required by the changes brought by globalization, changes in society or just the need to be competitive for long periods of time.

2. Globalization and Lifelong Learning

   Globalization is a phenomenon in which states relate to each other, in which borders disappear and people become free to move and work to another country. It is also the "ongoing process of greater interdependence among countries and their citizens"...