Title: Learning as a lifelong process - meeting the challenges of the changing employability landscape: competences, skills and knowledge for sustainable development

Authors: Erika Quendler; Matthew Lamb

Addresses: Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria ' Polymer and Environmental Centre, LKT-TGM, International Projects Division, Wexstraße 19-23, 1200 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: The consideration of learning as a lifelong process is paramount when trying to bring about a change in the values and attitudes of the workforce and society towards a sustainable development. Education bodies and employers are beginning to be aware of the need for training in the manifold aspects of sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to give an indication of: (1) the discussion around the concept of education for sustainable development along with an extensive background on the notions behind it in relation to employability, learning as a lifelong process and our capability to act and (2) how the needs of the labour market regarding competences, skills and knowledge for sustainable development can be made transparent in order to adjust not only to higher education in the field of life sciences but also the aspects of the lifelong learning process.

Keywords: competences; employability; employment; higher education; life sciences education; knowledge; skills; education for sustainable development; ESD; sustainability; lifelong learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2016.078447

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2016 Vol.26 No.3, pp.273 - 293

Received: 07 Jul 2014
Accepted: 24 May 2015
Published online: 19 Aug 2016 *

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