European views of self-directed learning

The rapid transition from industrial to an information society, a global economy and competition, new organizational concepts and strategies for human resource development have all led to lifelong and self-directed learning becoming increasingly important around the world. The dynamic interplay between knowledge, skill and the will to self direction in learning has been reviewed for vocational training in Europe according to the following perspectives: - dispositions, activities and instructional designs - educational philosophies in the countries, companies as well as in the educational systems - historical and social developments in different countries - theoretical and methodological approaches - empirical findings.