Harinder Lawley
BeFlex Plus and Lifelong Learning in European Universities: Changing the Paradigm?
Mobilit y as a tool to acquire and develop competences from childhood to seniorit y
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Translating Lifelong Learning from rhetoric to reality remains a key priority in the European policy agenda, but how do universities and other stakeholders make this happen? Is it about curricula, modes of study, innovation in virtual-learning environments or more about recognising prior learning, flexibility and blended-learning models that include workbased environments? Who are the students and where do they feature in our deliberations; and how do we support university staff in their move to a new paradigm? The first Benchmarking Flexible Learning (BeFlex) project gave insight into what is going on in University Lifelong Learning (ULLL). BeFlex Plus set out to promote the development of policy and practice, make use of the Bologna tools and levers, and support universities in the development and implementation of regional strategies. This paper will discuss progress, consider aspects of the recommendations, and highlight actions that are widely transferrable and based on good practice1.
BeFlex Plus and the Bologna Process
1 While the use of ICT is implicit in all aspects of the discussion it is primarily a tool and vehicle for delivery rather than a specific dimension of the BeFlex Plus project, realised with the support of Erasmus (Modernisation of higher education) EU funded programme.
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BeFlex Plus shone the spotlight on how universities across the European area were responding to the changing demographics and economics of higher education through the introduction and in some cases integration of lifelong learning in their mainstream provision of academic and vocational education and training. Specifically, it looked at how expectations and cultures of studying were being changed, moving from historical models of direct progression to university on leaving school to more open and flexible routes that offered repeat access at any time in one’s life and were available in a variety of formats and settings.