The Future of Education

Learning is a lifelong endeavor that shape human beings’ quality of life. It is considered as one of the key skills of the 21st century that individuals should be able to learn, un-learn, and re-learn not only in schools but also throughout their lives. Lifelong learning thus is the voluntary and self-directed effort of improving individual or professional skills. Within the scope of European Union Lisbon Strategy, lifelong learning is emphasized as one of the significant contributors for efficient implementation of the European Employment Strategy (EES). The current study, attempted to explore the trends in the field and the expectations of general public from the official lifelong educations institutions. The sample is drawn randomly from a metropolitan mid-eastern city in Turkey. Employing a mixed-method research approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative measures, researchers investigated, particularly, the potential of distance education means in delivering lifelong learning needs to the public. Based on the data from 613 participants, the paper will discuss the participants’ needs, their understanding of the distance education, and recommendations for policy makers to reach a larger population with the possibility of various distance education media.