The missions that are presently entrusted to Education, and the multiple forms that it takes, force it to encompass all processes that lead individuals, from their childhood to the end of their lives, to acquire a dynamic knowledge of the world, of others and of themselves.

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is no longer a simple segment of education and training and instead became a guiding principle, co-extensive to life and reaching the different dimensions of society. According to this perspective, the opening of Higher Education to different audiences, composed of individuals in search of qualification or requalification in order to find a (new) pathway for their professional careers, as well as by economically disadvantaged groups, cause the Universities to face challenges that require both an adequate and consistent response.

The idea that lifelong education and training contribute towards the maintenance of economic competitiveness and employability is widely accepted. However, it is also the best way to fight against social exclusion. This means that education and learning must focus on real people and their needs.

The scope of LLL requires the permanent acquisition, adaptation and updating of knowledge, skills and competencies, and provides an undeniable social and educational relevance, which should be the focus of universities. The construction of an unsegmented, new LLL model, where independent-learning plays a significant part, requires an effective effort from individuals and entities in order to achieve it, imposing:

• The reinforcement of institutional partnerships;
  
• Paying special attention to the recognition, validation and certification of previously acquired competencies in different contexts;
  
• Ensuring that training funding will conform to criteria that are different from those previously used;
  
• Fostering and disseminating the use of new information and communication technologies and distance teaching models;
  
• Ensuring the structuring role of basic skills;
  
• Facing the rights and duties involved in learning in a more responsible manner.
  

Achieving the meaningful objectives of LLL will demand a generalised effort of awareness-raising for its importance, and a will that is assumed by the society, which will have to, obviously, understand the advantages arising for each one of us as individuals, and for society as a whole.