Lifelong learning policy for the elderly people: a comparative experience between Japan and Thailand

Abstract

This study examined and compared the legal inputs, structural settings and implementation process of lifelong learning policy in Thailand and Japan focusing on street-level agents. The findings demonstrated that while both countries had legal frameworks that provided a legislative platform to promote lifelong learning among the elderly based on a bottom-up implementation of policies, three major differences existed that equated with different outcomes of lifelong learning among the elderly in both countries. First, the promotion of lifelong learning for the elderly in Thailand mirrored complex administrative structures of several host organizations and multiple legal frameworks; whilst Japan’s lifelong learning policy had been promoted based on the Social Education Act under a single ministry. Second, while Thailand based its policy implementation on government agents at the regional and local level in policy delivery, Japan developed a community-based multilayered platform that promoted the policy with active involvement from various local players. Finally, lifelong learning policy for the elderly in Thailand reflected the personal initiatives of policy promotion by government agents at the local level; whereas, lifelong learning policy for the elderly in Japan was pursued based on the interests of the elderly and the community in which they lived.

Keywords:

• lifelong learning for the elderly
• lifelong learning in Thailand
• lifelong learning in Japan

Additional information

Funding

Funding. Funded by the Sumitomo Foundation (FY 2012).

Notes on contributors

Nopraenue Dhirathiti

Nopraenue Dhirathiti is an assistant professor in Social Sciences. She has been conducting research in higher education policy and governance both in Thailand and Asia Pacific. Recently, she has focused on the issue of lifelong learning policy among the elderly people in Thailand and Japan. Her interest is also in the area of human security and the way in which people can be empowered through education. She has joined the UNESCO in the research project on academic promotion of teaching personnel in Asia. Before joining Mahidol, she was a senior specialist in higher education research at the ASEAN University Network, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development and a consultant at the Asian Development Bank.