‘Lifelong learning’ is the pursuit of knowledge throughout life. In other words, learning is not confined to the classroom environment and school subjects. Instead, people can learn throughout their adulthood, even in old age and in a variety of situations, particularly in their daily interactions with others and with the world around them. Lifelong learning must be voluntary and self-motivated. Therefore, lifelong learners should have a strong desire to learn and explore the world.
Lifelong learning is facilitated by e-learning platforms. Education is now no longer offered only by ‘bricks and mortar’ institutions. Online courses have instead enabled lifelong learning by providing learners, teachers, and course providers with much more flexibility in terms of learning time, place, pace, and style. Learners, for instance, can now have the course content taught to them by a school located miles away from where they live or work. In addition, young parents can select their group meeting time late in the evening when their children have gone to bed.
Most importantly, lifelong learning should be regarded as an attitude to learning for self-improvement rather than a pathway to qualifications. This means the ultimate aim is to better yourself for personal and/or professional development rather than for some certificate to decorate your CV. This type of lifelong learning may not necessarily take place as part of a course. It may be done very informally in any area of interest and at your convenience, as long as it is well within your capabilities and/or improves your skills. For example, researching the tidal cycles of the sea where you often go fishing and the types of fish available there is a form of lifelong learning.