Introduction
The Lifelong Learning Centre of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defence and Security University covers all key elements related to lifelong learning programmes based on the principles of lifelong learning. Lifelong education is a concept that views education as a lifelong process of organised learning that begins with compulsory schooling and formal education and continues throughout life, while the term lifelong learning refers to all learning activities undertaken during one’s lifetime with the aim of improving knowledge, skills, and competences.
Formal, Non-formal and Informal
According to the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, lifelong education as an institutional component of lifelong learning can be formal or non-formal. Formal education is a learning process organised according to an accredited educational programme that leads to a public document certifying a certain level of education, with the acquired qualifications recorded in the e-work book. Non-formal education is a learning process organised as an educational programme that is not certified by a public document, and is aimed at the professional training of adults for work, various social activities, and personal development. At the end of the educational process, the participant receives a certificate of participation. Furthermore, the Agency recognises the concept of informal learning, characterised by the fact that it is not structured but arises from experience and the influence of society on an individual’s attitudes, knowledge, and skills.
EU and National Framework
Lifelong learning has become a leading principle of many national education systems. The European Parliament strongly supports the view that lifelong learning is key to ensuring social inclusion and achieving equality of opportunity. This is achieved by embedding lifelong learning in strategic documents in the field of education. For example, this is evident in the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia until 2030, adopted by the Croatian Parliament in February 2021. The Strategy states that it is necessary to ensure training for lifelong learning, primarily to facilitate adaptation to an unpredictable future and rapid changes due to globalisation, changes in the labour market, the impact of information and communication technologies, migration, as well as various crises and unexpected situations. Furthermore, measures will be implemented to align enrolment policies with the needs of labour market development, the economy, and society, and to facilitate lifelong learning for people of all age groups on the labour market.
University’s Role
Given that this principle has also become a fundamental principle of the Croatian education system, the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defence and Security University, established as a leading higher education and research institution serving the needs of the homeland security and defence system of the Republic of Croatia, will establish and develop new lifelong learning programmes for a modern homeland security and defence system that is capable and adaptable to respond to all future challenges and threats to the national security of the Republic of Croatia and the collective security of the European Union and NATO.
Legal Basis
Founding Act
The Act on the Establishment of the Defence and Security University stipulates that one of the University’s activities is the “organisation and delivery of educational programmes based on the principles of lifelong learning in the area of the defence system and the homeland security system”.
University Statute
Furthermore, according to the Statute of the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Defence and Security University, one of the University’s activities is the organisation and delivery of professional development programmes within lifelong learning, with the aim of equipping learners with specific professional knowledge and skills.
Strategic Objectives
- to promote and develop service-learning through the Lifelong Learning Centre;
- to develop lifelong learning programmes based on the principles of lifelong learning and aimed at target groups (e.g., by age, societal needs, labour market trends), with a particular focus on the needs of the homeland security system;
- to establish a system for the assessment and recognition of the results of informal and non-formal learning;
- to enable the recognition of sets of learning outcomes through short programmes leading to partial qualifications.
Centre Description
According to the University’s organisation and job classification, one of the University’s organisational units is the Lifelong Learning Centre. The Lifelong Learning Centre is a professional unit of the University that plans, develops, designs, organises and implements lifelong learning programmes in the fields of military-defence and security-intelligence sciences and arts, with the aim of developing the homeland security and defence of the Republic of Croatia.
Centre Mission
Promotion and Programmes
- * promotion and dissemination of lifelong learning programmes founded on the principles of lifelong learning at the University;
- promotion of service-learning;
- * development of new lifelong learning programmes aimed at acquiring and enhancing competences…
Research and Quality
- * promotion of lifelong learning with the aim of increasing the number of scientific research projects and innovations;
- * conducting research in the field of lifelong learning;
- * continuous improvement of the availability and quality of lifelong learning programmes;
Projects and Cooperation
- * application for and implementation of projects in the field of lifelong learning;
- * cooperation with experts, competent ministries, local and national communities, and other relevant stakeholders in the field of homeland security;
- * encouraging students and University staff…;
- * evaluation of lifelong learning programmes.
Centre Vision
The vision of the Lifelong Learning Centre is to be a recognised centre of excellence in lifelong learning within the interdisciplinary scientific area—field of Security and Defence Sciences, branches of Military-Defence Sciences and Security-Intelligence Sciences and Arts—with the aim of developing the homeland security and defence of the Republic of Croatia. This includes the continuous monitoring and improvement of the University’s systems and programmes of lifelong learning, the promotion and development of new lifelong learning programmes, as well as increasing the visibility and accessibility of lifelong learning programmes at the University.