Continuing Education / Life Long Education 

The term lifelong learning stands for a consistency in learning over one’s life in and beyond formal educational settings that means there are many common ways in which learning takes place. Such as there is a drive to credit the personal experience of individual towards certification. Children and adults have different kind of learning and developmental needs that demand different kind of strategies. In future if a person is not learning he/she may remain behind and could not cope the challenges of the life. This situation demands and highlights the importance of the continuing education. The individuals have to develop and improve the skills for adapting changing context of the world. 

According to Collins (2009) that drive of lifelong learning started by Knowles, viewed education as life long process, has become the basic principal of adult learning. Duyff (1999) agreed that lifelong learning (LLL) is most common term in education and is stated as any kind of learning or teaching that extends or builds upon previous experiences in the same general realm of knowledge. It is also referred as all activities and efforts by learners to improve their skills and knowledge to meet the desired needs arose at work place or in their area of interest. In literature the educationists have used the terms Continuing Education (CE), professional development and Lifelong learning with same meaning that focus on the development of the individuals/workers/professionals based on certain training or education for the success of the organisation or the individuals. In twentieth century the educationists and researchers have focused more towards continuing education because of drive of industrialization. The demand for CE and achieving necessary skills has been aroused, challenging previous educational venues and creating opportunities for both professional and personal skill improvement. 

In current situation there are many reasons to justify the demand of continuing education such as quick changes in technology, enhancement of global competition, meeting the needs of the diverse community and demand for new skills. 

According to Fleming (1997) developmental and learning needs are felt more important for adults as there are very few opportunities for the adults to learn at work place and if they have these are very informal. Which make the later life of the individual much harder and time consuming. In this fast world, time is considered as money, so a skilled person may save his/her time by using the appropriate time. Due to this reason industries and institutions are more inclined towards continuing and lifelong learning. With the change rapid change in environment due to technological innovations, lifelong learning help individuals to enhance skills compulsory for survival. 

It means that people should learn to survive and how to live. Peoples continuously learn, gain knowledge and new skills in schools, at home, on the job or in the community. When members of the community are engaged in learning by all mean and all stages of life, it is referred as continuing education. In United States and Canada it is named as further education 182 where as in other countries it is considered as lifelong learning. But the basic concept behind is that learning takes place almost at all times in anywhere, according to Rojvithee (2005) different stages are: 

1. Age 0-5 years: At early ages of life, a lot of learning takes place that prepares a foundation for further learning in future. Learning in these ages is mainly informal, occurs in children by copying almost everything from their parents, peers and contexts. 
2. Age 6-24 years: At these ages learning takes place in educational institutions, from primary and secondary to tertiary levels. Individuals learn form family life, social organizations, religious institutions, and mass media. 
3. Age 25-60 years: Adults learn informally mainly via the use of instructional media: from their jobs, work environments, colleagues, touring, mass media, information technologies, and nature. They learn from their experiences and ways of problem-solving. So, they demand to continuous development of intellect and steady improvement of skill. 
4. Age 60 years: People in elder ages learn a great deal from activities suitable to their age. They can learn from art, music, sports for the elderly, handicrafts and social work. They can also participate in voluntary works in community organizations, clubs and associations. 

It is observed that learning has been taken different forms like formal, informal and non-formal learning. Tissot (2004) defined these stages in the following ways that may be helpful to understand its nature and utilisation in higher education as well. 

1. Formal learning 

Formal learning is structured and takes place in a formal setting, usually in an institution like schools, universities, or training centers. It follows a planned curriculum and is delivered by teachers, instructors, or trainers who have the required qualifications and expertise in their respective fields. Formal learning is usually organized in a classroom setting, where students receive lectures, attend workshops, and participate in group discussions. Formal learning is typically assessed through exams or other formal assessments that determine a student's level of understanding and performance. The qualifications or certifications obtained from formal learning are recognized and valued by employers, and they are essential for career advancement and progression.

1. Non-formal learning

Non-formal learning is a type of learning that takes place outside of the formal education system but is still structured and organized. It is often designed to meet the needs of specific groups, such as adult learners or individuals who have missed out on formal education. Non-formal learning can occur in a range of settings, such as community centers, libraries, or online learning platforms. Non-formal learning follows a flexible curriculum that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual learners. It is often practical and hands-on, allowing learners to acquire skills and knowledge that are relevant to their daily lives. Non-formal learning is often recognized through a certificate of completion, but it is not usually accredited by educational institutions. Examples of non-formal learning include vocational training, adult education programs, or workshops on specific topics.

1. Informal learning

Informal learning takes place outside of a formal setting and is often selfdirected. Informal learning can occur in various ways, such as through observing and imitating others, trial and error, social interactions, or through self-study. Informal learning does not follow a structured curriculum or assessment system and is not recognized with a formal certification or qualification. It is often spontaneous and influenced by the learner's interests, needs, and motivations. Informal learning can occur anywhere, such as at home, in the workplace, or in a community setting. Examples of informal learning include reading books, watching educational videos, or attending conferences or workshops.

On the other hand it is necessary to understand that continuing education is beneficial for all persons and society and contribute towards national economy. The following are the ways to impact the individual’s life, society and country. 

1. It helps the persons in gaining knowledge, skill and develop attitude towards national development. 
2. It also helps people to be more productive and innovative for the society. A constant change and improvement in skills is the key feature of continuing education. Therefore those who want to cope better with the demands of workplace changes, are those who constantly learn new skills and train for new challenges. 
3. It is helpful in development of the economy of the nation by providing opportunities to workers for acquiring more skills, knowledge and abilities that leads to a higher capacity in the economy. 

As per requirement and benefits of the CE let's consider some important features, Researchers have highlighted that flexibility of duration, learnercentered, approach, need based education, multi-level and multi-subject learning, and open access are the key features, as the population is growing larger. So, they have additional obligations such as work and family, for the most part. Therefore, a flexible learning framework is needed to enable one to learn at all times and all places. The features listed above are aligned with the needs of the adults, because they can learn while working. Therefore there is a need that flexible plan should be prepared. Because of the difference between individuals, there is a need to an adjustable pace and way of study suitable to the individuals’ capabilities. The adult learning market is going to become more competitive as well as full of opportunities, for both existing institutions and new entrants. Combination of increasing competition and the requirement to keep updated professionally with a rising standard of living and more leisure time have made studying an ongoing process. Along with its benefits there are some limitations attached with CE, we as an educators have to address these limitations as well. Some of the limitations are listed as under. 

1. Which content should be taught (Conduct of Need Analysis is required) 
2. Identification and level of target groups (Different Professions have varied nature of needs for professionals)
3. Selection of Teaching and Learning Strategies (Help from the professionals Required) 
4. Assessment and evaluation (Appropriate tools for assessment required) 

Lifelong learning is closely linked to prognosis of the educational phenomenon as well as to the long-term innovations in education. Due to the continuous and accelerated changes taking place in the society, the human being is also a subject to this transformative process, which requires an active and pro-active attitude. The concept of “Lifelong learning” concept is related to the open educational systems and variety of techniques to ensure the support and continuous development of capacities and competencies to deal with the emerging issues and developing as an independent and creative person. 

In this recent era, work force market pressures, unemployment and social trends and issues, lifelong learning presents a solution to all these dilemmas. The traditional approach of studying for a finite period of time to complete education before moving to the labour market is increasingly replaced by the continuous learning throughout the entire lifecycle of the individual.