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Definitions 99

Key competences, following the European Reference framework of key
competences for lifelong learning (European Commission, 2007b), these cover
key knowledge, skills and attitudes ‘which all individuals need for personal
fulfilment and development, active citizenship, social inclusion and employment.
The Reference Framework sets out eight key competences: communication in the
modern tongue; communication in foreign languages; mathematical competences;
digital competences; learning to learn, social and civic competences; a sense of
initiative and entrepreneurship and cultural awareness and expression’. Critical
thinking and career management skills fall within ‘social and civic competences’
and a ‘sense of initiative and entrepreneurship’.

Lifelong guidance refers to a continuous process that enables citizens at any
age and at any point in their lives to identify their capacities, competences and
interests, to make decisions related to education, training and occupation, and
to manage their individual life paths in learning and work. Guidance covers
a range of individual and collective activities relating to information-giving,
counselling, competence assessment, and support to acquire decision-
making and career management skills (Council of the European Union,
2002; 2008a).

Lifelong learning embraces all learning activity undertaken throughout life
for the continuous development and improvement of knowledge and skills
needed for personal fulfilment and employment. The term ‘lifelong’ learning
draws attention to time: learning throughout life, either continuously or
periodically. The term ‘lifewide learning’ underlines the spread of learning,
which can take place across the full range of life activities. The lifewide
dimension brings the complementary nature of formal, non-formal and
informal learning into sharper focus, according to the Memorandum on
Lifelong learning (European Commission, 2000).

Learning to learn is the ‘competence to pursue and persist in learning, to
organise one’s learning, including through effective management of time and
information, both individually and in groups. It includes awareness of one’s
learning processes and needs, identifying available learning opportunities,
and the ability to overcome obstacles in order to learn successfully. This
competence means gaining, processing and assimilating new knowledge
and skills, as well as seeking and making use of guidance’, according to the
European Parliament’s recommendation on ‘key competences for lifelong
learning’ (European Parliament, 2006).