International Trends of Lifelong Learning in Higher Education: Research Report

Against the background of a global education crisis and a growing recognition of the importance of lifelong learning, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the Shanghai Open University (SOU) conducted a comprehensive research project from 2020 to 2022 that included, among other components, an international survey on the contribution of higher education institutions to lifelong learning, the results of which are presented in this report. Based on the comprehensive sets of quantitative and qualitative data collected across all world regions, this research constitutes a major step forward in building an international knowledge base on the role of HEIs in establishing lifelong learning opportunities for all.