TU Dublin Hosts European Seminar on Student-Centred and Lifelong Learning
TU Dublin today welcomed higher education leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from 19 countries for an international seminar exploring the future of student-centred education and lifelong learning.
The event highlighted the international reach of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), bringing together representatives from different educational systems and institutional traditions to share experiences, examine emerging approaches and discuss how European education policy can better support learners throughout their lives.
The Learning and Teaching Seminar: The State of Play of Student-Centred and Lifelong Learning brought together representatives from European higher education institutions, government ministries and national education bodies to explore opportunities for greater collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning.
Hosted by TU Dublin, the seminar was organised by the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE), in partnership with the European University Association (EUA), the European Students' Union (ESU) and Algebra Bernays University, as part of the Bologna Process for Learning and Teaching (BP4LnT) project.
Speaking at the event, TU Dublin President, Dr Deirdre Lillis said:
“Lifelong learning is central to TU Dublin’s ethos and our commitment to making education accessible, inclusive and relevant at every stage of life. We recognise that learning does not begin or end at university, and that people need opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge throughout their careers and lives. The themes of this seminar closely reflect our own approach to education, placing learners at the centre and ensuring that higher education continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of individuals, industry and society.”
The event focused on two key priorities for the European Higher Education Area: placing students at the centre of their learning experience and creating more flexible opportunities for people to access education throughout their careers and lives.
Through presentations and interactive discussions, participants explored how these priorities are being put into practice across European higher education institutions, the challenges involved and opportunities to inform future policy and reform.
The seminar also provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between institutions and policymakers, highlighting the importance of ensuring that practical experiences and lessons from across Europe contribute to the ongoing development of the Bologna Process.
Hosting the event reflected TU Dublin's commitment to inclusive, accessible and practice-based education, as well as its active engagement in shaping the future of higher education in Europe.
The gathering demonstrated the value of international cooperation in addressing shared challenges and developing approaches to teaching and learning that respond to the changing needs of students, institutions and society.