The Future of Lifelong Learning and Work (Critical Perspectives)

Concern with learning throughout life has become pervasive in market-driven societies. Will most workers need to become more continuous learners in a new knowledge-based economy or will much of their learning be ignored or devalued in relation to their work? These papers critically assess dominant views of learning and work. The book is unique in examining changing relations between learning and work in terms of unpaid work and informal learning as well as paid employment and formal education. The book is organized in terms of five basic themes. GENERAL PERSPECTIVES assesses learning and work relations in the “new economy” in terms of different concepts of learning and work and contending theories of education-employment relations. SOCIAL JUSTICE looks at uneven dislocating effects of globalization on gender discrimination in information technology work, working conditions in the public sector, student transitions to work, and disability in work and learning. PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT analyzes the general working conditions and learning constraints of temporary, part-time workers, with a particular focus on call centre and garment workers. APPRENTICESHIPS offers an international review of the nature and future trajectory of apprenticeship systems and a case study of the challenges of a high school trades preparation program. MULTIPLE LITERACIES identifies needed abilities including coping with diverse cultures, languages and environmental change, as well as use of information technologies.
The material in this volume emerges from the conference on “The Future of Lifelong Learning and Work” held at the University of Toronto in June, 2005. This conference was one of the cluminating efforts of the Work and Lifelong Learning international research network based in Canada. The contributions were produced by members of this network as well as associates of the Centre for the Study of Education and Work at OISE/UT, and are complemented by the work of selected, leading international voices in the field of learning and work.