The Emergence Of Long Life Learning
This white paper is intended to be a conversation starter. A starting point for educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs who seek to develop programs and schools that help us live a life that is as deep and meaningful as it is long.
- The MEA Team
What Is Long Life Learning?
“Long life learning” is a new educational segment focused on helping those in midlife and beyond cultivate more of a sense of purpose and legacy, adaptability and resilience while maximizing well-being, all based upon respected social science and adult development theories on aging. These new educational programs foster communities of like-minded peers who cultivate, harvest, and share wisdom with one another. As such, graduates of these programs – who are often fifty years old and up – are better prepared to live lives that are as deep and meaningful as they are long.
Why Long Life Learning?
Why Now?
With increased longevity and a more volatile world, a growing number of people are bewildered by the middle of their adult life. They are advised that lifelong learning will help them compete in an increasingly competitive workplace, but most lifelong learning programs focus little on the unique challenges and needs experienced by those navigating midlife. Mid-lifers’ sense of irrelevance is accentuated in an era when organizational power is accelerating to younger people and COVID-19 has proven so harmful to people in midlife and beyond.
Thought Leaders
Weigh in on why “long life learning” is important.
– Marc Freedman
On Encore.org's relation to "long life learning."
– Tom Schreier
On Notre Dame University's relation to "long life learning."
About the Authors
Chip Conley
Chip Conley is a New York Times bestselling author with his five books exploring the intersection of psychology and business. His most recent book, “Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder,” led him to creating MEA, the world’s first “midlife wisdom school.” Chip has a BA and MBA from Stanford University and an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology from Saybrook University. He’s on the Board of Encore.org and the Advisory Board of the Stanford Center on Longevity. He was awarded one of Next Avenue’s prestigious “Influencers on Aging” in 2019.
Ingo Rauth Ph.D.
Ingo Rauth (Ph.D) is an adjunct professor for Management and Design at IE Business School (Spain). His research and educational efforts focus on organizational and individual change and development, with a special interest in design psychology. In his teaching capacity, Ingo developed programs focused on innovation management, organizational change and development, “design your life,” as well as life and career and life transitions. Ingo holds a Ph.D. from Chalmers University, Sweden.
The Emergence Of Long Life Learning
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- The MEA Team
