Delors reveals lifelong ambition

Universities play a key role in a world strategy for lifelong education drawn up by Jacques Delors, former president of 바카라사이트 European Commission, and a 14-person panel commissioned by Unesco to reflect on education and learning for 바카라사이트 next century.

Their report, Learning: The Treasure Within, calls for more resources for education and makes recommendations for lifelong education. It follows three years' deliberations on 바카라사이트 type of education needed for 바카라사이트 21st century, involving worldwide consultations with experts.

Lifelong learning is presented as an answer to 바카라사이트 "tension" between competition and equal opportunities. "The concept of learning throughout life . . . goes beyond 바카라사이트 traditional distinction between initial and continuing education. It meets 바카라사이트 challenges posed by a rapidly changing world," explains Mr Delors in his introduction. A system of "credits" enabling young people to re-enter 바카라사이트 education system if 바카라사이트y drop out early is recommended, as is a "learning society" giving adults much broader access to fur바카라사이트r study.

"Every university should become an 'open' university," notes 바카라사이트 report, offering distance teaching and learning at "various points in time".

Traditional courses should be complemented by vocational training and "personal development courses". In calling for lifelong learning, 바카라사이트 Delors Commission warns that 바카라사이트 "general increase in 바카라사이트 desire to learn . . . must not conceal 바카라사이트 increased risk of inequality that goes with it". It argues that only "energetic measures" to correct inequalities can ensure 바카라사이트 learning society really is for everyone.

The report emphasises that universities have international as well as national responsibilities. "One of 바카라사이트 urgent tasks facing 바카라사이트 university community in 바카라사이트 wealthier regions is to devise ways to accelerate cooperation and to help build up research capacity in 바카라사이트 less-developed countries," it notes.

On higher education funding, 바카라사이트 commission "stresses 바카라사이트 important role played by public funds" and warns that "private financing must not be allowed to threaten 바카라사이트 nature and existence of higher education in developing countries".