As its name suggests, lifelong learning is based on integrating learning and life. It includes learning activities for people of every age, in all contexts (family, school, community, workplace, etc.) and using different modalities (formal and informal education), which together respond to a wide range of learning-related needs and demands.

Today, lifelong learning is at the center of international debate, since it is part of the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 4, which urges countries to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

This form of learning has been named as a priority at the regional level. In the Buenos Aires Declaration (2017), emanating from the Regional Meeting of Education Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean, the ministers recognized the importance of the educational targets of SDG 4, which address education and lifelong learning. At the same time, the road map for monitoring the commitments made at that meeting established lifelong learning as one of four priority themes for Latin America and the Caribbean.