ABSTRACT
The second group of new insights into lifelong learning covers the cross-departmental, cross-sectoral, interdependent nature of the concept. The 1995 Economic Cooperation and Development Jobs Study establishes a link between the economic and the social value of lifelong learning. In financial terms alone, the savings to be made in addressing problems of social exclusion and dysfunction and moving to a more attractive and successful learner-centred education system has a high value. The manifesto it produced recommends greater co-ordination, the collective mobilization of resources and a greater investment in lifelong learning to ensure social and cultural vitality as well as economic success. Even within the education services there is a much greater scope for the greater sharing of resources and the development of a common cradle to grave policy. More cross-departmental projects leading to a breakdown of existing autonomous structures, would also lead to the rebuilding of new co-operative lifelong learning frameworks in local government.
