Lifelong learning has been receiving a great deal of attention due to a number of macro-environmental changes, including the 4th industrial revolution, the current low fertility rate, and the resulting aging of society. The government is striving to support lifelong learning for the people by planning and implementing various policies. However, the policies under a public system for learning support need to be more comprehensive and systematic, so that they can address people’s learning according to their life stages. In this context, this study aimed to explore strategies for establishing a future lifelong learning support system, and to suggest policy tasks from a mid-to-long-term perspective. This study categorized areas of the future lifelong learning support system according to people’s life stages: (a) Elementary and secondary education for children and youth, (b) Adult vocational education and training (higher education and continuing education), and (c) Adult lifelong education (higher education and adult liberal arts education). To formulate policy tasks for building a future lifelong learning system, this study conducted an integrative literature review (Torraco, 2005). Based on the results of the integrative literature review, several policy tasks were suggested.
In terms of mid-to-long-term policy tasks for children and youth (elementary and secondary education), the following policy tasks to build a future lifelong learning system were suggested:
• Establishing a competency assessment system for lifelong competency management Providing education support for children and adolescents to improve access to higher education
• Enhancing flexibility of elementary and secondary education curriculum• Improving the college admission system for competency-based curriculum implementation
• Reducing the lifelong learning competency gaps between the disadvantaged and other students in elementary and secondary education
Regarding the mid-to-long-term policy tasks for adult vocational education and training (higher education and continuing education), the following policy tasks to build a future lifelong learning system were suggested:
• Revising the laws related to lifelong learning and vocational education and training
• Establishing public and private learning infrastructures
• Providing professional human resource development service support for new fields of technology
• Providing personalized career development services
• Establishing a social safety net for vocational training
As for mid-to-long-term policy tasks for the adult lifelong education (higher education and adult liberal arts education), the following policy tasks were suggested to build a future lifelong learning system:
• Revising and enacting laws related to lifelong education
• Securing finance for lifelong education
• Bridging the widening gaps in lifelong learning opportunities
• Institutionalizing education for the elderly
• Recognizing the limitations of the government-led lifelong learning system
Lifelong learning system as a complex space: focusing on emerging learning demands and supplies
• Designing personalized learning programs according to people’s life stages
• Forming a social consensus regarding lifelong learning as a right
• Exploring and discussing concepts related to lifelong learning