Lifelong learning as a facet of sustainable economic development

Abstract

Our paper demonstrates how lifelong learning might increase the economic and business potential of the urban centers of both developed and less-developed countries and contributed to sustainable economic development. Rapidly growing cities (especially, but not exclusively, located in the Third World) are marked by social fragmentation and economic divisions have the potential to become learning cities tat engage urban dwellers in learning activities aimed at addressing social divisions and creating opportunities for all citizens. Nevertheless, the question is whether the cities and urban hubs offer opportunities for lifelong learning to he most marginalized city dwellers and what services these might be. Lifelong learning becomes an answer to that that offers formal and non-formal educational activities. Where communities learn to engage with the realities of social exclusion, political alienation, and economic marginalization -through both public policy and private initiatives. Educational initiatives across the cities in less-developed countries might include including public policy in the slums and developed metropoles alike aimed at stabilizing communities and establishing cooperation and integration, non-formal educational initiatives to reduce marginalization, or expansion of the formal school system aimed at raising aspirations.