‘Higher education through distance education has a big potential to make learning and education more accessible, effective and inclusive for adult learners. The final IDEAL report provides a good knowledge base for increased cooperation and dialogue between stakeholders across the European Union, ’ Arne Carlsen, UIL Director.

Distance education in higher education is a fast-growing and widespread phenomenon. As many adults are unable to participate in on-campus education, distance education offers flexible learning paths that greatly...

‘By equipping young and adult women with literacy, numeracy and basic skills and by providing them with quality learning opportunities, we can support their empowerment and that of families, communities and societies,’ says Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

UIL has published a second edition of a collection of case studies of promising literacy programmes that seek to empower women. Narrowing the Gender Gap: Empowering Women through Literacy Programmes (originally published in 2013 as Literacy...

‘This Inventory showcases eighty-six countries and investigates how learning outcomes of non-formal and informal learning are being integrated alongside formal qualifications into regional and national qualifications frameworks for lifelong learning,’ said Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.

UNESCO HQ, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) launched the 2015 edition of the Global...

“Literacy is imperative in developing sustainable and inclusive societies” , says Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL)

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) joins the world in marking the 2015 International Literacy Day by launching a new publication, Transforming Our World: Literacy for Sustainable Development (PDF 3,6 MB), which shares effective practices in literacy and numeracy. This...

This handbook identifies principles and policy mechanisms to advance community-based learning for sustainable development, based on the commitments endorsed by the participants of the Kominkan-CLC International Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, which was held in Okayama City, Japan, in October 2014. To inform policymakers and practitioners new to this field, the handbook clarifies the international vision and goals for sustainable development and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and identifies the potential contributions of community-based learning centres...

'We are now at a juncture of redefining literacy as the foundation of Lifelong Learning for the next 15 years. Therefore, it is imperative to look back and learn from past literacy initiatives and policies in order to design new and successful strategies in future', remarks Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.

The past decade has seen a resurgence in the popularity of literacy campaigns as a means of mobilizing political will, resources and people. However, there has been inadequate understanding of the...

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has just published ‘Unlocking the potential of urban communities: Case Studies of twelve learning cities’ in cooperation with the showcased cities and with generous support from the National Institute for Lifelong Education of the Republic of Korea (NILE). The publication is the first of its kind. It showcases examples of cities from all over the world which use the learning city approach to enhance citizens’ individual empowerment, social cohesion, economic development, cultural prosperity and sustainable development.

The case...

“Families can foster a culture of learning where the education needs of all its members are addressed,” Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has launched a new publication on successful family literacy and learning programmes entitled “Learning Families: Intergenerational Approaches to Literacy Teaching and Learning” (PDF 4,8 MB). This compilation presents...

«The action research project RAMAA was initiated by UIL in order to provide policymakers and development partners with reliable and usable contextual data. This data will help improve the quality of literacy programmes for youth and adults, strengthen evidence-based advocacy, and develop national capacities with an emphasis on ownership and sustainability» (Arne Carlsen, UIL Director).

This new publication is a critical review of the first results of action research on measuring the learning outcomes of literacy programmes. Five francophone...

' A large number of adult learners are still facing institutional and situational barriers to access distance education in European higher education institutions. There is an urgent need for closing the gap between demand of adult learners and provision of distance education ,’ Arne Carlsen, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

For most people seeking to participate in distance education in Europe, increasing attainment levels, improving career prospects and learning for self-fulfilment continue to be the top driving...