Title: Lifelong learning as an answer to sociodemographic change: the case of Slovenia

Authors: Nada Trunk Sirca, Ziga Cepar, Dusan Lesjak, Milan Zver

Addresses: Faculty of Management Koper, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia. ' Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia. ' Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Trg OF 13, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Ministry of Education and Sport, Kotnikova 38, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: Population ageing has important implications for demand in the field of education in Slovenia. We analyse the basic implications of an ageing society for the demand for the formal education of youth and for lifelong learning. Next, we research the system of recognition of nonformal and experiential learning, especially in higher education, and the potential role of Europass in such a system when trying to restore balance in the higher-education market. In the last section of the paper, we draw main conclusions about the developments in the field of education and the role of lifelong learning and Europass in it.

Keywords: education; lifelong learning; demographic change; labour market; Europass; Slovenia; population ageing; nonformal learning; experiential learning; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2009.021684

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2009 Vol.6 No.1, pp.62 - 75

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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