LIFELONG LEARNING: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is a relevant form of human capital accumulation for the modern stage of socio - economic development, i.e. a stock of health, knowledge, skills and other qualities embodied in people and necessary for their personal, social and economic well - being. The quality and stock of national and individual human capital determine the position of countries in the world economy, which is reflected in international rankings, income levels and quality of life of people. The process of lifelong learning corresponds to the on - going change of understanding of literacy, the paradigm of working life, quality of life in general; various aspects of this phenomenon are the subject of research by international organizations. The relevance of lifelong learning in medicine is determined by social demands and the need to overcome resource limitations. Lifelong learning, according to the documents of UNESCO, includes any form of learning activities, which is carried out during a person’s life and aims at the acquisition and/or improvement of knowledge and skills; this process is associated with a number of benefits and costs. The benefits of LLL have different time horizons and can take monetary and non - monetary forms: increased income, increased motivation, increased stock of social capital, career and social elevation, improvement of personal and professional skills. Skill development can include interpersonal skills, creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, adaptability, and more. In the LLL process, people may face a variety of resource constraints, direct and opportunity costs, social obligations, etc. Certain change in terminology can be noted in recent studies: «lifelong learning» (LLL) is being replaced by «lifewide learning» (LWL). The LLL trend is the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) phenomenon, in the limits of which young people deny the need for education and employment. The causes of the phenomenon are low level and quality of education of young people, health status, negative social capital, property and social inequality; the consequences are decrease in the quantity and quality of human capital.