On 8 November 2023, the Education Department had the honour to partner with The HEAD Foundation for a Dialogue event on: Successful Lifelong Learning with speakers Dr Séamus Ó Tuama, Chair of ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL HUB); Prof Hong Hai, chairman of @U3A Duxton Hill, a University of the Third Age providing lifelong learning and active engagement among third agers focusing on Holistic Wellbeing; and Koh Chye Soon, from 42 Singapore, which provides tuition-fee free training in tech-skills, accessible to all.
The speakers provided their perspectives on Successful Lifelong Learning through Autonomy and “Capitals”. Dr Ó Tuama talked about the 5 Capitals – seed capital, identity capital, cultural capital, social capital, and human capital – and how these influence learners’ personal ambitions, hopes, and dreams.
Mr Koh discussed accessibility and flexibility of learning. Through the example of 42, he highlighted how autonomy in choosing your educational path, tempo, and tools can motivate interest in continuous learning and learning not as a process but as a goal in and of itself.
Finally, Prof Hong talked about The University of Third Age, which provides seniors with learning opportunities through social networking to share their experiences and learn from each other. He reminded us that learning is an ongoing process that does not stop once you finish schooling – learning can continue to provide us with meaning and excitement into our older years.
ASEF, and in particular the Education Department, has worked very closely with the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub) as one of the key ASEM Education Initiatives, through a number of events and programmes to further bridge Asian and European Education Stakeholders.
