Lifelong Learning (LLL)

Overview

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is the ongoing pursuit of knowledge, skills, and personal development throughout an individual’s life. It encompasses formal and informal learning, including traditional education, vocational training, and self-directed learning. The significance of LLL is that it allows individuals to adapt to changes in the job market, stay current in their field, and acquire new skills and knowledge to achieve their personal and professional goals.

Benefits of LLL include:

• Improved employability and job performance
• Increased earning potential
• Greater flexibility and adaptability to change
• Enhanced personal and professional development
• Improved critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Increased participation in civic and community life
• Improved mental and physical well-being.

LLL can be used to address a wide range of learning issues, including:

1. Skills development: LLL can help individuals acquire new skills and improve existing ones to stay competitive in the workforce.
2. Career development: LLL provides individuals with the opportunity to pursue new career paths or advance in their current ones.
3. Professional development: LLL can help individuals stay current in their field and maintain professional certifications.
4. Personal development: LLL can allow individuals to pursue personal interests and hobbies and develop new talents.
5. Social inclusion: LLL can provide individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in education and training programs.
6. Digital literacy: LLL can help individuals acquire the digital skills they need to participate in the digital economy.
7. Sustainable development: LLL can provide individuals with the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to contribute to sustainable development.
8. Entrepreneurship: LLL can provide individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to start and grow a business.

Issues

Learning issues in diaspora communities can include language barriers, cultural gaps, limited access to resources and education, and difficulty navigating a new country’s education and the job market. These issues can be further compounded by factors such as poverty, discrimination, and trauma resulting from displacement. LLL programs can address these issues by providing access to education and training tailored to the specific needs of diaspora communities, including language classes, job skills training, and cultural sensitivity training. Additionally, LLL programs can help individuals in diaspora communities to maintain and improve their skills over time, which can be especially important in the context of rapidly changing job markets and technological advancements.

Competence Development

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is a concept that emphasizes the continuous acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies throughout an individual’s life. It is essential because it allows individuals to adapt to changing social, economic, and technological conditions and to maintain their employability and personal development.

LLL can address various learning issues, such as the lack of education and training, the need for specific skills, and continuous professional development. In diaspora communities, learning issues may include language barriers, cultural differences, and limited educational and training opportunities.

Competence development refers to acquiring and improving the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform a specific job or task. Diwan can help diaspora communities through LLL by providing access to education and training opportunities tailored to the community’s specific needs and circumstances. This can include language classes, vocational training, and professional development opportunities. Diwan can also provide learning and career development support, such as mentoring and guidance, to help individuals acquire the competencies they need to succeed in the workforce.

Career Development

Similarly, career development is another essential aspect of LLL; it refers to the process of identifying and developing one’s skills and abilities to progress in their chosen field. Diwan can help diaspora communities through LLL by providing guidance, mentorship, and access to resources to help them identify and develop their career goals. Diwan can also provide a platform for community members to connect with potential employers and mentors in their field of interest.

Education Development

Education development refers to the process of improving and expanding educational opportunities and resources for individuals and communities. Diwan can accelerate education development by implementing Lifelong Learning (LLL) programs that focus on the specific needs of diaspora communities.

Through LLL, Diwan can help address various learning issues that diaspora communities may face, such as language barriers, lack of access to educational resources, and limited opportunities for career development. By providing language classes, online resources, and mentorship opportunities, Diwan can help improve the competency of diaspora members and support them in their career development.

Additionally, by implementing a citizen science program and systems innovation program, Diwan can provide hands-on learning opportunities that allow individuals to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings. This approach enhances education development and provides opportunities for community development and problem-solving.

Diwan programs accelerate education development through LLL with the following steps:

1. Identifying the specific learning needs and issues of the diaspora community.
2. Developing a curriculum that addresses those needs and is tailored to the community’s culture and language.
3. Providing resources such as language classes, online resources, and mentorship opportunities.
4. Incorporating hands-on learning opportunities through citizen science, indigenous knowledge, sustainable development and systems innovation programs.
5. Continuously evaluating and refining the program to ensure its effectiveness and relevance to the community.

It is important to note that this is a general guide and the specific steps and approach may vary based on the community and their needs.

Micro-credentials

Diwan Network’s focus on Lifelong Learning (LLL) is centred on the idea that individuals should have access to learning opportunities throughout their lives. This approach can help address various learning issues faced by diaspora communities. By providing access to micro-credentials, Diwan can help individuals develop the competencies they need to advance their careers and contribute to the development of their communities.

The micro-credentials offered by Diwan are designed to be highly relevant to the needs of transnational communities, providing individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the global economy. The program is also flexible, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

Diwan’s micro-credentials are awarded based on demonstrating competencies rather than completing a set number of hours or coursework. This approach allows individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in various ways, including completing projects, assessments, and other forms of evidence.

In addition to providing individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the global economy, Diwan’s LLL program also helps to support education development in transnational communities. By providing access to relevant and high-quality learning opportunities, Diwan helps to ensure that individuals have the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to the development of their communities.

Competence Score

A competence score measures an individual’s proficiency level or skill in a specific area. It is a way to assess and evaluate an individual’s abilities and knowledge. It can be determined through various tests, assessments, evaluations, and self-evaluations. The score can identify areas where an individual is lacking and help set future learning and development goals.

In the context of Lifelong Learning (LLL), a competence score can be used to track an individual’s progress and identify areas of improvement. It can also be used to match individuals with learning opportunities that align with their areas of interest or weakness. By monitoring competence scores over time, individuals can track their progress and take ownership of their learning journey.

Diwan can help advance LLL objectives by using competence scores to match individuals with learning opportunities, track progress and provide personalized feedback. This can help individuals to identify areas of improvement and set goals for their learning journey, leading to more efficient and effective use of resources. Micro-credentials can be used to certify the competence score and help individuals to demonstrate their skills and knowledge to potential employers, which can help in career development.

WILPs

Work-integrated Learning Pathways (WILPs) are educational programs that integrate classroom instruction with practical work experience. They are designed to help learners build competencies, skills, knowledge, and professional achievements through hands-on learning in real-world settings. WILPs can take many forms, such as internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, service-learning, and other forms of experiential learning.

Diwan can help learners advance their LLL objectives by providing WILPs that align with their specific needs and goals. For example, Diwan can work with transnational communities to identify specific industries or sectors where learners have a high demand for jobs and design WILPs that provide hands-on training in those fields. This can include internships, apprenticeships, or other forms of work-based learning that allow learners to gain practical experience and build the skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers.

Open Collaboration

Open collaboration refers to a collaborative approach where individuals or groups work together to achieve a common goal using open and transparent communication, shared resources, and collective decision-making. In the context of Lifelong Learning (LLL), open collaboration can help advance LLL objectives by providing learners with opportunities to share knowledge, ideas, and resources and collaborate on projects, research, and other learning activities. This can help learners build a wide range of competencies, skills, and knowledge and gain valuable professional experience and achievements.

Diwan can advance LLL through open collaboration by creating platforms and opportunities for learners to collaborate with each other and with educators, industry professionals, and other experts. This can include online forums, social media groups, and other digital platforms, as well as in-person events, workshops, and other gatherings. Additionally, Diwan can provide resources and support to help learners navigate these collaborative opportunities, such as training on practical collaboration skills, mentorship programs, and other forms of guidance. Overall, open collaboration can help learners advance their LLL objectives by providing them with a diverse and dynamic learning environment where they can learn from and contribute to the collective knowledge and expertise of others.

Digital Public Goods

Digital public goods are digital resources, tools or platforms that can be accessed and used by anyone, without any financial or legal barriers, for public benefit. These include open-source software, educational resources, research data, and digital content. Open collaboration can be used to produce a wide range of digital public goods, including

• Open-source software and platforms for education, health, and other sectors
• Open data and research resources
• Open educational resources and MOOCs
• Open access to scientific publications and research findings
• Open-source design and fabrication tools
• Open cultural heritage and digital collections
• Open government data and services
• Open innovation platforms and crowdsourcing tools
• Open-source hardware
• Open data analytics and visualization tools
• Open-source health platforms and tools
• Open-source AI and ML models

Microprodction Model (MPM)

The Micro-Production Model (MPM) is a method for creating digital public goods. The model involves community members proposing new projects through network assembly, where they build a network of stakeholders with the necessary skills, resources, and knowledge to tackle a particular issue or challenge. These projects will be matched with Lifelong Learning (LLL) programs sponsored by the Quadruple Helix (QH) of government, industry, academia, and civil society. The LLL programs provide fair and equitable opportunities for community members to earn micro-credentials and build competencies, skills, and knowledge.

The MPM aims to address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues relevant to the Iranian diaspora. These issues may include but are not limited to education, health, environmental sustainability, economic development, and cultural preservation.

The MPM utilizes the principles of open collaboration and new funding models such as Quadratic Funding (QF), which allows the community members to fund their own projects and be funded by others who want to support their idea. This network assembly approach allows for a more decentralized funding mechanism, ensuring that the funded projects align with the community’s needs and goals.

The LLL programs can streamline MPM through WILPs to provide a platform for community members to develop their competencies, skills, and knowledge and build professional achievements. These programs also provide opportunities for community members to collaborate and share knowledge, resources, and expertise, which helps to advance the overall LLL objectives. Additionally, by earning micro-credentials, community members demonstrate their competence and skills to potential employers and collaborators, which increases their employability and career development opportunities.

Overall, the MPM aims to empower the Iranian diaspora to take an active role in addressing the most critical issues while also providing opportunities for personal and professional development. Through this model, community members can collaborate and co-create digital public goods that address the specific needs of their community while also contributing to the global community.