Engaging in lifelong learning: Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies [SIRUS]

This report addresses the specific challenge faced by European universities to prepare citizens for their role in society and the economy, and to respond to societal expectations by providing educational opportunities for professional and personal development. Specifically, the report focuses on ways to provide educational opportunities for a widening circle of learners during their whole lifetime while paying close attention to successful attainment. The [Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies] SIRUS project worked on the principle that there is no single approach to how universities should embrace the challenges of providing education to European citizens throughout their lifetime. Different higher educational cultures, social and legal contexts are at play across Europe and each university has to define its role within its specific environment. The diversity of the 29 institutions participating in the project produced a vast array of strategies, appropriate to the role that each of these universities had defined for itself, in line with its specific societal and economic environment. This report seeks to highlight these different strategic approaches to [lifelong learning] LLL, and to identify common challenges based on the contributions made by the participating universities during the project.

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