As lifelong learning grows in popularity, few comprehensive pictures of the phenomenon have emerged. This volume is designed to demonstrate precisely what is happening around the world and to do so within a systematic framework, showing the complexity of the phenomenon.

Part 1: Introductory Chapters 1. Lifelong Learning: a Social Ambiguity 2. Learning in Everyday Life Part 2: Learning throughout Life 3. Young Adulthood 4. Middle Age 5. Later Adulthood Part 3: Sites of Lifelong Learning 6. The Family 7. Literacy 8. Schooling 9. Universities 10. Workplace Learning 11. Workplace Learning in America 12. Trades Unions 13. The Community 14. The Learning Region 15. Cultural Heritage 16. Libraries 17. Tourism Part 4: Modes of Learning 18. Self-Directed Learning 19. On Being Taught 20. Distance Learning 21. e-learning 22. The Web Part 5: Policies 23. National Policies and Lifelong Learning 24. The European Union 25. The World Bank 26. OECD 27. UNESCO 28. Commonwealth of Learning Part 6: Social Movements 29. Non-Governmental Organisations and Networks 30. NGOs and Development – dvv 31. Social Movements 32. International Aid and Development Part 7: Perspectives on Lifelong Learning 33. Economics 34. Philosophy 35. Psychology 36. Sociology 37. Feminism 38. Religion Part 8: Geographical Dimensions 39. Africa 40. Asia 41. Australia 42. Europe 43. India 44. South America 45. United States