Lifelong Learning Policy in Two National Contexts: Paper for ESREA conference Trans-nationalization of Educational Policy Making: Implications for Adult and Lifelong Learning, Nottingham, February 2012

The concept of lifelong learning has been used and debated for many years, but it has most often been associated with adult education and learning. In a more comprehensive approach to lifelong learning it means learning throughout the life course and the types of institutional education available in different life phases. In this paper I discuss the state of lifelong learning policy in two European societies with different educational contexts, histories, system models and development issues, Denmark and Portugal. As part of the paper will give a brief overview of EU policies and initiatives in the area of lifelong learning and discuss how national policies in the two contexts are influenced by EU policies and funding.