ELOA

Lifelong learning for older adults: Hopes, fears and expectations

The 6th conference of the ESREA Network on Education and Learning of Older Adults

Lifelong learning and the learning of older people are important issues for individuals as well as for society. An ageing population gives rise to fears and hopes – fears that the economy will not bear the cost of an ageing population and hopes of longer and meaningful lives. Learning and education play an intrinsic role. At the 6th ELOA conference, we will explore fears, hopes and expectations concerning the lifelong learning of older adults. What are the hindrances and obstacles and the pleasures and joys of learning later in life? What can be learned from ongoing initiatives and projects?

At this conference we will have the opportunity to explore tensions between interpretations of lifelong learning among researchers working in the areas of older adult learning, educational gerontology, and adult education. Based on the assumption that diversity and openness contributes to deeper understanding that benefits society, organizations and individuals, we will meet to problematize different approaches and perspectives. We will invite papers that focus on theory, research or policy, and these will be discussed in parallel sessions.