Lifelong Learning Strategy
Leuphana University
A project implemented by:
With the support of Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission
1. Leuphana’s ongoing strategy and future planning
• Leuphana‟s overall mission is to be a
humanist,
sustainable and
proactive university,
based on a commitment to society’s future.
1. Leuphana’s ongoing strategy and future planning
• Leuphana‟s overall mission is to be a
humanist,
sustainable and
proactive university,
based on a commitment to society’s future.
• These values embrace the principles of lifelong learning:
In response to the economic and social changes caused by demographic change and rapid globalisation Leuphana recognises the need to widen participation in higher education, in order to promote economic growth, and also to improve social cohesion.
1. Leuphana’s ongoing strategy and future planning
• Leuphana‟s overall mission is to be a
humanist,
sustainable and
proactive university,
based on a commitment to society’s future.
• These values embrace the principles of lifelong learning:
In response to the economic and social changes caused by demographic change and rapid globalisation Leuphana recognises the need to widen participation in higher education, in order to promote economic growth, and also to improve social cohesion.
• Leuphana wants to improve the opportunities of LLL across society,
especially by offering study parallel to work and by overcoming cultural divide and communication barriers between academia and business.
1. Leuphana’s ongoing strategy and future planning
• Leuphana‟s overall mission is to be a
humanist,
sustainable and
proactive university,
based on a commitment to society’s future.
• These values embrace the principles of lifelong learning:
In response to the economic and social changes caused by demographic change and rapid globalisation Leuphana recognises the need to widen participation in higher education, in order to promote economic growth, and also to improve social cohesion.
• Leuphana wants to improve the opportunities of LLL across society,
especially by offering study parallel to work and by overcoming cultural divide and communication barriers between academia and business.
• Leuphana works on the development of a culture of LLL throughout the university.
2. Reflecting the EUA LLL Charter
“Providing education and learning to a diversified student population”
Leuphana‟s structure offers a full
educational continuum for different target groups:
•College - holistic, transdisciplinary bachelor‟s education
•Graduate School - interdisciplinary, highly practical master‟s/PhD degrees
•Professional School - dedicated to lifelong learning programmes (continuing
education parallel to work)
•Research institutes - methodological rigor with practical relevance
In addition:
•open lectures for all citizens,
•children„s university,
•continuing education program for staff
“Adapting study programmes to ensure that they are designed to widen participation and attract returning adult learners.“
The Professional School offers continuing education parallel to work for professionals and specialists in the workforce.
•allows students to keep on learning, return to learning and learn flexibly, even long after entering the workplace
•responsive continuing education to meet the needs of the workforce, organisations, institutions and businesses - fits into the rhythm of the working life
•Master‟s programmes and Bachelor‟s programmes: after-work contact hours, IT
support for e-learning, advanced placement possible based on individual assessment of prior learning, Bachelor‟s programmes targeted at specific vocational groups
“Providing appropriate guidance and counselling services.”
• Professional School’s Master‟s programmes offer coaching and individual guidance
• Professional School is setting up extra work-life mentoring programs for future students (with non-academic backgrounds) for the Bachelor‟s programs in development
• Leuphana College has advisory services and study skills support for undergraduates
• Mentoring programme of Graduate School offers postgraduate students support from working experts beyond the university
“Recognising prior learning.”
1. Research project “Open University” to prepare model for RPL (no existing model yet):
•developing research on how to open universities while maintaining quality standards
•networking with adult education providers and employers to provide a bridge between vocational, adult and higher education and degree programmes
•developing accreditation models for prior vocational learning and learning acquired outside of traditional education to enable advanced placement on degree
programmes
“Recognising prior learning.”
1. Research project “Open University” to prepare model for RPL (no existing model yet):
•developing research on how to open universities while maintaining quality standards
•networking with adult education providers and employers to provide a bridge between vocational, adult and higher education and degree programmes
•developing accreditation models for prior vocational learning and learning acquired outside of traditional education to enable advanced placement on degree
programmes
2. Research project “Opening Universities for Lifelong Learning”
•researching different approaches to widening participation – comparative study with EU partners in order to identify European best practice models
“Recognising prior learning.”
1. Research project “Open University” to prepare model for RPL (no existing model yet):
•developing research on how to open universities while maintaining quality standards
•networking with adult education providers and employers to provide a bridge between vocational, adult and higher education and degree programmes
•developing accreditation models for prior vocational learning and learning acquired outside of traditional education to enable advanced placement on degree
programmes
2. Research project “Opening Universities for Lifelong Learning”
•researching different approaches to widening participation – comparative study with EU partners in order to identify European best practice models 3. Research project “Model Approaches for Quality and Transparency in LLL”
• providing resilient criteria by which companies or participants can assess the quality and expected value of educational offers
“Embracing lifelong learning in quality culture.”
Leuphana ensures the quality of all programmes through regular student evaluations of teaching and content.
•Quality assessment based on three levels:
student satisfaction,
learning success,
the transfer of learning into the workplace.
“Strengthening the relationship between research, teaching and innovation in a perspective of lifelong learning.”
• Interaction between
Schools (College, Graduate School, Professional School)
Incubator (funding from the European Fund for Regional Development)
Research Unit on Lifelong Learning (Institute of Performance Management)
“Consolidating reforms to promote a flexible and creative learning environment for all students.”
1. Research project to find out …
… learning environments which better suit the needs of non-traditional learners
… why few students use existing alternate admission paths into HE
2. The Professional School is developing a sustainable e-learning infrastructure …
… to blend formal learning processes with the transfer of learning to daily life
… to allow long-term learning support online
“Developing partnerships at local, regional, national and inter- national level to provide attractive and relevant programmes.”
• Leuphana‟s many research institutes have a wide range of partnerships and networks in the academic and working world, at regional, national and
international level.
• A key example is The Institute of Performance Management with its four major lifelong learning
research initiatives, and an active network of regional, national and international partners.
“Acting as role models of lifelong learning institutions.”
• Leuphana and its Professional School have the mission to be the leading provider of lifelong learning in northern Germany.
• Communication activities:
initiation and organisation of thematic congresses and workshops
networking with other universities
dialogue and cooperation with companies
documentation of key learnings and best practice
3. Leuphana’s timeline for implementation
STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
• Implementation of Leuphana Structure in 2007 (School-Model)
• Development of study programmes
• Dialogue academia-business,
setting up of networking structures with companies RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
• Current research activities on the topic of LLL and RPL
(~ 2,5 Mio Euro funding for research projects till end of 2012) CULTURE
• Implementation of LLL culture throughout university
• Intensified marketing activities to attract new target groups in LLL (e.g. from vocational training)
