

On 19 and 20 July 2018, experts came together at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning to discuss the development of a handbook on lifelong learning policy development and implementation.
An international team of specialists in the field of lifelong learning has been formed to jointly create a practice-oriented handbook that seeks to guide the planning and implementation of national lifelong learning policies. The handbook is scheduled for publication in 2019 and will serve as a guiding instrument for policy makers and relevant stakeholders who are in the process of developing and implementing policies for lifelong learning. It will shed light on aspects such as the governance of lifelong learning, policy issues, strategic approaches to the practical implementation of and financial implications involved in lifelong learning, as well as financing and monitoring strategies.
The development process of the handbook involves extensive consultations of experts from governmental, non-governmental and academic sectors as well as international organisations. An international consultative meeting, to be held on 18 and 19 October 2018 in Shanghai, China, will provide the opportunity for experts to discuss and validate the chapters of the handbook. Drawing on the complexity of political, social, economic and environmental issues emerging around the globe, the handbook proposes lifelong learning as a valuable and sustainable approach to address the practical challenges countries are facing.