Current European Trends in the Development of Lifelong Learning

Abstract

The article is aimed at identifying the current tendencies of the lifelong learning in the EU countries and studying the peculiarities of formation of the key competencies of European employees. It is defined that in the European countries’ policy on vocational education and lifelong learning a promising trend is the approximation of vocational education to the labor market. The main changes in the definition of essence of the key competences for lifelong learning in the normative documents of the European Union are researched. On the basis of an analysis of legislative acts, the continuity of Ukraine's policy and loyalty to the European principles regarding the improvement of educational activities are substantiated. The main problems of gaining of key competencies by European workers and positive tendencies of spread of lifelong learning as well as the main indicators of its development are identified. The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of introduction of lifelong learning in the EU countries are determined. The modern innovative programs and measures for the financing of continuous vocational training of staff in the European countries are covered. The necessity of using European experience and the possibility of spread of life-long learning in Ukraine is substantiated.

Keywords

• lifelong learning
• competency
• education
• development
• tendency