The Cape Town statement on characteristic elements of a lifelong learning higher education institution

Abstract

This statement grew out of a need recognised by adult and higher educators, scholars and specialists in the area of adult and lifelong learning to build on previous work focusing on transforming institutions of higher education into institutions of lifelong learning. It continues the work begun at the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education in Hamburg, Germany, 1997, continued at the University of Mumbai, India in 1998, and the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in Paris in 1998. It was developed at the conference on Lifelong Learning, Higher Education and Active Citizenship from the 10 - 12 October 2000 in Cape Town which was co-hosted by University of Western Cape, UNESCO Institute for Education and the Adult Education Research Group of the Danish National University of Education. The Cape Town Statement served as a key guiding document in the Division for Lifelong Learning at UWC. The list of ‘Characteristic Elements of a Lifelong Learning Higher Education Institution’ was annually reproduced as ‘framework part-time provision’ in a handbook called “Juggling to Learn Planning for Success in Your Studies – A handbook for Students, Educators and Administrators” It was used as an organisational tool to improve the part-time provision and to promote lifelong learning at institutional level and beyond. The Editions 2005-2012 of this handbook are available in the Special Collections in the UWC Main Library on level 12. The Cape Town Statement has been translated into French, Spanish and Chinese.