Lifelong Learning: Characteristics, Skills, and Activities for a Business College Curriculum

Abstract

The literature places great importance on lifelong learning, but leaves its meaning open to a wide range of interpretations. Much is written about lifelong learning after leaving school with little about business college preparation of lifelong learners. This is the departure point for the study's providing one college's operational definition of lifelong learning by identifying 8 specific characteristics the faculty said lifelong learners should possess. The authors identify 18 skills the faculty believes lead to the achievement of the lifelong learner characteristics and describes activities that develop these skills. Other institutions may benefit by adapting the enumerated characteristics, skills, and activities as well as the process used to determine them.

Keywords:

• business education
• lifelong learning
• lifelong learning activities
• portfolio
• professionalism
• self directed learning