Lifelong Learning: Perspectives, Opportunities and Challenges

Whilst in the eons of history the term lifelong learning may be a relatively new addition to the language, the practices and experiences are most certainly not. Throughout human existence people have tried to improve their living conditions by accomplishing their tasks in more efficient and effective ways. This can often be linked to the notion of work but lifelong learning, whilst important in the workplace, affects all parts of our existence. It not only aids us to understand our tasks but also how we fit into a wider society. Without lifelong learning our society, and we as individuals, would stagnate. It is not something that we always do purposively but is a part of being human. We acquire skills and knowledge and then apply them sometimes in unrelated scenarios. Lifelong learning has benefits not just in terms of our work but can also help in terms of socialization. It also has potential health benefits, for example, in terms of enhancing neuroplasticity and aiding in the development of emotional intelligence and empathy for others. We become more confident in what we do as we achieve increased knowledge and understanding through lifelong learning, as can be evidenced in many of the contributions in this edited collection. We all benefit from lifelong learning and have a role to play in both in terms of educating ourselves and a duty to help to educate others in order to create a better society. The contributors and editors hope that this collection can play even a miniscule part in that development and we have certainly been through new experiences that have contributed to our own lifelong learning.