Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? Studies of Lifelong Learning in Europe

Citation

(1999), "Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? Studies of Lifelong Learning in Europe", Education + Training, Vol. 41 No. 9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.1999.00441iad.001

Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? Studies of Lifelong Learning in Europe

Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? Studies of Lifelong Learning in Europe

Edited by Frank CoffieldThe Policy PressBristol1999ISBN: 1861341318 (paperback)£13.99

Keywords Education, Training, Learning organisation, Politics, Social economics

Over the last few decades in the English-speaking world, a consensus has developed about the need for nothing less than a revolution in education and training to maintain economic competitiveness. Politicians of the left, centre and right, trade-union and business leaders have repeatedly promoted this idea, choosing lifelong learning as the solution to a wide range of economic, social and political problems.

Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? draws on research which challenges this consensus in Germany, France, Spain and the UK. It suggests instead that lifelong learning may be better viewed as contested terrain between employers, trade unions and the state. The report argues that lifelong learning is being turned into a moral obligation and a form of social control, and that the demands on employees to become and remain employable are escalating. The authors raise many critical and controversial issues in examining the concepts of the learning society, the learning organization and lifelong learning as they are being translated into practice in the UK. The publication also compares UK initiatives with similar projects in a number of European countries.

Why's the Beer Always Stronger up North? highlights an equation that does not seem to add up: footloose employers claim to be developing learning organizations to which employees are expected to be totally committed, while being treated as totally expendable. The report provides plenty to interest politicians, policymakers, employers, trade unionists and educationists keen to develop a learning society.