The Third edition of this well-received and widely used Handbook brings together an entirely new set of chapters, to reflect progress and new themes in the ten years to 2022. Building on the established structure of the first two Handbooks, the four sections focus in turn on: philosophy, history and theory development; fresh perspectives on policy and policy development; emerging programs and new approaches; and re-imagining lifelong learning for future challenges. The Handbook stimulates readers with fresh and timely insights, while exploring anew some enduring themes. New topics and themes introduced in all sections address lifelong learning challenges associated with climate change, the digital world, the rise of populism, migration and precarious living. The Handbook features learning innovations and evolving pedagogies such as intergenerational learning, art as pedagogy to promote public-mindedness, neuroscience enhancing learning effectiveness, and lifelong learning for sustainability. Policy responses to lifelong learning for work and well-being are debated. In state of the art contributions, authors from around the globe focus readers' attention on multifaceted processes, issues and decisions that must be better understood and enacted if inclusive development and fair access to lifelong learning are to become realities for us all.

This book examines access, lifelong learning and education for all, which have been policy preoccupations in all countries for more than half a century, but have been overlaid and pushed aside by the development of mass higher education. The authors examine what has been achieved, what lessons have been learnt and what still remains to be done, addressing matters of equity, agency, community, mobility and hierarchy.

Talent shortages in the tech sector pose significant challenges for firms, workers and governments, hindering productivity, innovation, job satisfaction and economic growth. To address these shortages, this report emphasises the importance of a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategy based on innovative policy actions. This includes adopting skills-first approaches to hiring, which prioritise specific skills over traditional qualifications, expanding talent pools and enabling employers to adapt more dynamically to evolving technological demands. Additionally, the promotion of micro-credentials is highlighted as a crucial tool for facilitating rapid skill development tailored to current industry needs, thereby supporting continuous learning and workforce agility. Furthermore, fostering inclusivity in the tech sector is essential. The report advocates for inclusive initiatives that broaden the talent pool by addressing barriers faced by under-represented groups, including women, minorities, youth and migrants. The report emphasises that successful implementation of these strategies requires robust collaboration among governments, education and training institutions, and the private sector. It draws on exemplary practices from various OECD countries to illustrate effective approaches to fostering such collaboration, ensuring sustainable solutions to alleviate talent shortages in the tech sector globally.

This open access book looks into the roles and practices of small and micro-enterprises in formal and informal economies across seven countries and one territory in terms of how they contribute to environmental and sustainable development and green skills promotion. By taking into account the perspectives in these four sectors, catering, automotive, waste management and polyvinyl chloride production, this book maps environmental green practices in the region, identifying mechanisms used to assess existing skills (i.e. knowledge, skills and competencies), and evaluating the potential for green skills inclusion in recognition, validation and accreditation.

Since the turn of the millennium it has become clear that the Asia-Pacific Region is, economically, the fastest growing continent in the world, and is likely to remain so for some time despite the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Asia-Pacific's share of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) doubled from 15 per cent to 30 per cent between 1970 and 2017 and is projected to account for half of global GDP by 2050. With South East and South Asia also growing rapidly, with over half the world's population and three of the world's five largest economies, Asia is soon poised to home half of the world's middle class - a class that is both the driver and the product of higher education. The quality of a country's system of higher education may be seen both as a gauge of its current level of national development as well as of its future economic prospects. It is therefore natural that the putative Asian Century should generate interest in the region's higher education systems which, on the one hand, share common characteristics-a fixation with credentials and engineering, high technology (especially among male students), and business degrees-while at the same time are also highly differentiated, not only across countries but also within. As such, a better understanding of higher education achievements, failings, potential, and structural limitations in the Asia-Pacific Region is imperative. This handbook presents a number of significant country case-studies and documents cross-cutting trends relating to, among other things: the trilemma faced by governments juggling competing claims of access, accessible cost, and quality; the balance between teaching and research; the links between labour markets (demand) and higher education (supply); preferred fields of study and their consequences; the rise of the research university in Asia; the lure of institutions of international reputation within the region; new education technologies and their effects; and, trends in government policy within the wider region and sub-regions.

Im Fokus des Sammelbandes stehen Untersuchungen zur Anerkennung von nonformalem und informellem Wissen. Durch eine Validierung sollen neue Zugänge zum Arbeitsmarkt eröffnet und die Zusammenarbeit und Mobilität innerhalb der EU gestärkt werden. Hier setzt das Erasmus+-Projekt EffectVPL ("Effectiveness of VPL Policies und Programmes for Labour Market Inclusion and Mobility - Individual and Employer Perspectives", 2017-2019) an, dessen Ergebnisse in diesem Band vorgestellt werden. Ausgangspunkt des Projekts zum lebenslangen Lernen war die mangelhafte Anerkennung von Lernerfahrungen, die außerhalb institutioneller Kontexte gewonnen wurden. Im ersten Teil des Bandes werden die theoretischen Grundlagen vorgestellt, bevor die Autor:innen im zweiten Teil empirische Ergebnisse zu Untersuchungen in Polen, Dänemark, der Türkei und Deutschland präsentieren. Abschließend wurde ein Trainingsmodul entwickelt, das die Projektergebnisse für Lehrende in Europa aufbereitet.

This volume addresses the conceptions of actors and actorhood in higher education research. It explores the range of actors that are (or should be) recognized and theorized in higher education research, the processes that shape actorhood in the higher education reforms and explores the relations between the actors and higher education reforms. Drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks and research projects, the volume provides in-depth analyses of higher education actors and reform issues through institutional, system or international comparative perspective. The volume celebrates and is in conversation with the intellectual contributions of Professor Pavel Zgaga whose work advances our understanding of actors and actorhood in higher education and higher education reforms.