Social competences have played a crucial role in the international search for generic, over-arching skills, key qualifications and core competences since the 1970s. By the end of 1990, social cohesion and integration had gained new momentum in this discourse because of their importance for the functioning of global market economy and industries. Moreover, the concept of social capital affects and changes the role of social competences in vocational and continuing education.
This volume presents a collection of papers which reflect and describe these changes and their political,...

The articles on different subjects of the broader theme -lifelong learning- represent the latest results of the discussions of the -Vocational Education and Culture Research Network-. The contributions, written by authors from six European countries, mention nearly the whole spectrum of issues and arguments distinguishing the current debate on lifelong learning. The publication includes therefore questions of biographies as well as system-oriented approaches, it refers to international comparisons as well as to country studies, to self-organised and -directed learning as well as to the role...