The first summer institute on lifelong learning was held by the Faculty of Education, University of Malta at the University Residence in Lija, Malta last week.

A total of 45 participants were present, most of whom were Maltese and included a large number of nurses and health care professionals, as well as teachers. Foreign participants came from England, Montenegro, Sweden and the United States.

The key speakers at the institute were University of Surrey professor Peter Jarvis, Cumbria University professor Margaret Ledwith, University of Malta (UOM) and Institute Convenor professor Peter Mayo, and UOM professor Kenneth Wain.

UOM Faculty of Education Dean Dr Valerie Sollars opened the summer institute which forms part of the Faculty Summer Institutes Programme coordinated by Dr Carmel Borg.

The themes discussed at the institute during the plenary sessions and workshops included the meaning of lifelong learning in this day together with the combination of lifelong learning and other aspects such as health, work, aging, the community, women and migration.

The International Summer Institute on Lifelong Learning was the second activity of this kind following the summer institute on Students at Risk which took place in July. This was also organised by the Faculty of Education and the key speaker was University of Toronto professor John Portelli.