Learning and Innovation in New ICT-Facilitated Communities

Lifelong learning should be considered a necessity rather than a luxury for living and working in the European information society. However, wide participation in it has not become a reality despite the political endorsement and the needs of industry to have people with new skills for the new jobs. It is forecasted that the qualification structure of jobs in Europe will change significantly by 2020 and there will be high demand for qualified employees. This requires training of the working population, as the young generation entering the labour market cannot fulfil all the labour market skills needs over the next decade. There is a very real and important need for lifelong learning, which demands that learning opportunities both inside and outside traditionally recognised formal education systems are recognized and supported. This paper presents results from a review analysis of learning in new ICT-enabled learning communities. It argues that the learning that is taking place outside traditionally recognized educational and training is becoming a necessity for the skills and jobs of the future. Education and Training policies as well as companies should take these bottom-up ICT-enabled learning communities much more into account.

ALA-MUTKA Kirsti Maria;  PUNIE Yves; 

2009-10-20

Open Universiteit Nederland

JRC52198