Experience from the International Lifelong Learning Conference in Brno
Tiia Ristolainen and Ene Teemäe from the Centre for Lifelong Learning of the University of Tartu’s Academic Affairs Office participated, within the framework of Alliance4Life_BRIDGE WP3, in the International Lifelong Learning Conference (https://univerzitanacelyzivot.muni.cz/en), which took place from 2 to 4 December, 2025 at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic.
This was the first time the International Lifelong Learning Conference was held in Brno, and Masaryk University – which also positions itself as a lifelong learning university – announced its intention to make the event an annual tradition, to be organised again next year.
In addition to representatives from universities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, the United Kingdom, and Austria, the conference was attended by stakeholders from both the public and private sectors in the Czech Republic. In total, 125 participants took part. Each day of the conference focused on a different theme, explored through keynote presentations and panel discussions, with 54 speakers contributing to the programme.
- The first day focused on school pupils, including gifted learners, and on strengthening pathways from school to university.
- The second day addressed adult education, including micro-credentials.
- The third day was dedicated to continuing education for older adults, including the activities of Universities of the Third Age.
“Lifelong learning is not a luxury but an economic and social necessity”
This idea resonated with participants throughout the day
The conference provided a rich platform for discussions on the importance of lifelong learning, sharing good practices, strengthening cooperation between universities and other institutions, and introducing innovative approaches to education, including professional development through micro-credentials.
Lifelong learning activities in Estonia and the Czech Republic are largely similar, and the key challenges are also shared. It is essential to motivate academic units at universities to offer continuing education and to encourage adults to participate in learning and acquire new knowledge and skills. For this reason, it is important to cultivate lifelong learning habits from an early age. People need to understand why they want to learn — mandatory training alone is not a solution. Society needs educated citizens, and lifelong learning is not a luxury but an economic and social necessity. It is also crucial that people with special needs are not left out of learning opportunities.
Cooperation with companies and public institutions plays a vital role, including explaining the principles and benefits of micro-credentials — such as shorter and more flexible learning formats — and exploring possibilities for collaboration. Micro-credentials were described as a bridge between academia and real life. A representative from Latvia highlighted that what distinguishes micro-credentials from traditional continuing education is the presence of formal quality assurance. In the Czech Republic, micro-credentials are not regulated at national level as they are in Estonia, and their main target group currently consists of university students.
At the same time, Czech universities have long-standing experience in educating seniors: the University of the Third Age has been operating there for 35 years. Discussions addressed whether it should be seen primarily as a social or an educational programme, whether seniors could study together with regular students to strengthen intergenerational ties, and whether teachers working with senior learners need specific training. On the evening of the first conference day, participants also enjoyed a high-quality concert by the Masaryk University University of the Third Age music club, held in a church next to the university and opened by the Rector.
The conference also highlighted the strong international reputation of Estonian and Finnish education systems. A clear forward-looking message emerged: we already need to think about future skills, professions, and innovation. A rapidly changing world and technological development require new competencies, and universities will play an increasingly important role in lifelong learning, including continuing education. This is clearly the right direction.
