Special Country Papers

Special Country Papers

PASCAL welcomes Iida (Nagara Prefecture, Japan) to the PASCAL International Exchanges (PIE) project. This is the first Japanese city included in PIE. The paper by Professor Atsushi Makino of Tokyo University has particular value in discussing shifts in Japanese policy for lifelong learning in response to socio-economic changes in Japan over the past forty years. Developments in Iida are used to illustrate “the formation of a self-reliant community” by “self-reliant individuals” linked with a “sustainable society”.

Ways in which local autonomy and the “quiet dynamism of local communities” are being fostered make the Iida story an instructive one. PASCAL has recognised the particular value of papers such as this in developing understanding of shifts in policy for lifelong learning in response to socio-economic changes in society by adding this new category in the Themes section of PIE titled Special Country Papers. Professor Makino’s paper is the initial paper in this section. It is hoped that similar special country papers will follow. Anyone interested in the preparation of such a paper should contact Peter Kearns, PIE project co-ordinator.

Latest Posts

Gwang Myeong Stimulus Paper

There has been substantial learning city development in Korea, aided by a strong government interest in this. Gwang Myeong as the first Korean city in PIE is particularly welcome. It was also the first city chosen as a Korean learning city in 2001 so that its experience has influenced Korean learning city development...

Promotion of Lifelong Learning in Japanese Municipalities

Japan amended its Basic Act on Education in 2006 to integrate the concept of lifelong learning which they defined as: Society shall be made to allow all citizens to continue to learn throughout their lives, on all occasions and in all places, and apply the outcomes of lifelong learning appropriately to refine themselves and lead a fulfilling life.[1]