The Times They Are a-Changin’: Time for a Major Emphasis on the Three Ls of Lifelong Learning at Canadian Universities

Authors

  • Alan Middleton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21225/D5S881

Abstract

This article contends that university continuing education is in need of a dramatic repositioning in the minds and wallets of most university administrations. In order to respond both to a developed economy’s need for the continuous upgrading of skills and knowledge and to universities’ needs for new funding sources, the provision of lifelong education and training—lifelong learning—needs to be strategically central to a university’s vision, mission, and goals. Right now, in its non-degree form, it is a peripheral activity making only minor contributions to universities’ reputation and revenue: according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada in its 2008 report Trends in Higher Education—Volume 3: Finance, only $300 million was earned by universities in noncredit courses. This had not changed much in a decade. Canadian universities are missing out on opportunities in reputation, revenue, and relevance, both domestically and globally. The article goes on to suggest the steps needed in the development of an effective lifelong learning strategy. Some would require changes in university management processes and philosophy to be effective, but continuation of the present half-hearted approach will not succeed in serving either Canada’s lifelong learning needs or its universities’ needs for relevance and revenue.

Author Biography

Alan Middleton

After a 25-year career in business as a practitioner, Alan Middleton is now an assistant professor of marketing at the Schulich School of Business in Toronto and, since 2001, has been the execu- tive director of the Schulich Executive Education Centre. Alan co-authored two books and has authored chapters in several others. He has published papers on marketing communications return on investment, client-agency compensation strategies, and client-agency relations. He is a co-founder of the Cassie advertising awards and co-authored the first book about the winners. In 2005 he was inducted into the Canadian Marketing Hall of Legends in the mentor category.

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Published

2011-01-02

Issue

Section

Forum / Tribune