Education: Lifelong Learning

Abstract

This entry provides a brief account of the history of education in bioethics, with particular emphasis on the development in the USA, since it was at institutions in the USA that such education was first implemented. This is followed by a presentation of the steps that led to the concept of lifelong learning and the global action in the field of lifelong learning from different approaches. One of these approaches, i.e., the methodology/model of problematization, is presented in more detail, including a brief account of two pedagogical approaches from which this model has taken its inspiration; on the one hand, the Socratic method of maieutics and on the other hand, the proposal of Paulo Freire labeled popular education. The model of problematization is presented through its objectives, the importance of contents, the different steps of the education process, and finally the main differences compared to other proposals such as problem-based learning. Finally, some of the achievements of the Lifelong Education Programme in Bioethics developed in Latin America and the Caribbean by the bioethics network (Redbioetica) supported by UNESCO is presented. This is a distance learning program applying the problematization model and the human rights approach.

The author is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this entry and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the organization. The author declares to not have conflict of interest.