Lifelong learning and the teaching occupation: Tracking policy effects of governing ideas on occupational (re)ordering

Abstract

‘Lifelong learning’ is a theme that highlights ‘learning’ but the meaning of this term has shifted over time. In the 1970s, UNESCO advocated a humanist-democratic agenda around learning throughout life. Supporting lifelong education, by recognising informal, non-formal as well as formal learning across the life course, was endorsed as a means of building learning societies. By the 1990s, these themes had been reoriented to support economic and employment agenda that were advocated by business and governments. Learning societies would tap ‘learning’ as a contribution to economic development.