Speaker
Description
In an era marked by rapid technological change, global competition, and demographic shifts, lifelong learning has become a central mechanism for sustaining employability, innovation, and social cohesion. This presentation explores the dynamic relationship between digital transformation, ageing societies, and global competitiveness through the lens of lifelong learning. It highlights how digital transformation both disrupts existing skills and creates new opportunities, positioning lifelong learning as essential for adaptation and innovation. Digital technologies further expand the modalities of lifelong learning through online platforms, adaptive systems, and data-driven personalization, enabling flexible and inclusive “anytime, anywhere” education. Lifelong learning is also examined as a key determinant of global competitiveness, as it enhances human capital, drives productivity, and fosters social inclusion, helping nations respond effectively to globalization and technological change. Moreover, in the context of ageing populations, lifelong learning plays a crucial role in promoting cognitive health, quality of life, social participation, and active citizenship, while reducing the socio-economic pressures of demographic ageing. Finally, the paper turns to China as a case study, presenting three practices: community education centers as grassroots learning hubs, elderly learning institutions as a response to active ageing, and digital empowerment initiatives aimed at narrowing the urban–rural divide. These experiences underscore how policy frameworks, community participation, and digital innovation can work synergistically to build inclusive lifelong learning systems.
