By: Yeung Cheuk Hang Karsum(51219058)
Subject: ASocsc (TG2)
Tutor: Ms Audery Yeung
Lifelong Learning
Introduction
Nowadays, the idea of Life Long Learning becomes a common value between the educators in the world, people should keep exploring the knowledge, in order to adapt the quick changes and grasp the chances in this globalization age. Universities also offer the skills of learning in a life time. In my essay, I will explain my view on life learning and how I execute it.
My views on lifelong learning
My understanding
”Learning to know, learn to do, learn to live together and learning to be: these four pillars should be the foundations for any educational vision in 21 century”( Ricardo, 2001). Although various people tried to give lifelong learning a good definition ,my understanding life long learning is keeping the passion to explore the knowledge throughout peoples’ life. Everyone can have their own ways and changes to have further education.
Aims and Background
As famous ancient roman philosopher Seneca says “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” When I was in the lower forms of secondary school, my dream was being a writer of novels in the future. I seldom noticed the social issues and I accepted the capitalism values-everyone in the capitalism can get what they want if they work hard enough. After 1997, the society was full of the atmosphere of depression. I notice that there is many NGOs’ with various voices .I recognized there are many non-justices in our society and planed to work in NGO of human rights to be my future career. It is because I can gain my life, on one hand, on the other hand I can work for my ideal.
MY Life Long Learning process
The period of associate degree studies
After I had failed in Hong Kong advanced level certificate of examination studies level and my application of sociology programme also be rejected by Shue Yan University. I was worrying that how I can go back the path toward my aim, at last I choose to apply this progamme and not to find a job. It is because I know that a AL certificate is not enough for me to apply a NGO job .For the salary, it is still a low salary for a Under graduated student who want to be a Ngo staff, not to mention a form 7 graduate. Although I have passion, but the basic need of life also have to be fulfilled.
During the semester A studies in here, I decided not to retake HKAL examination but try to get higher GPA for degree studies. First of all, it is not worthwhile to take the risk that can’t afford two sides and make HKAL result and GPA being low together. Second, social science is a subject that needs space and time to think more, or students will learn nothing from the studies. I would leave myself more time to rest, think and reading to fulfill my knowledge base rather than fill my brain with the “knowledge” of examinations.
The period of bachelor degree studies
After I finished the associate degree, there are various plains when I face different situation
In the best situation, If I can get GPA higher than 3.0 or even better, which means that I get the chances to interview for a UGC funded degree by non-jupas system. I will try to apply for two degrees, which are Culture Studies of Lingnan University and Applied Social science of City University. These are the degree programmes I like most around all UGC funded programmes.
If I got lower than GPA 3.0 but above 2.7, I will apply the top-up degree of Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Applied Social Science, Sheffield Hallam University. Although this kind of degree seems to be lower level than UGC degrees, it can still give me more chance or higher salaries when I apply for a job.
To apply for the UGC funded programmes, there are I will practice more with other classmates of English and Putoughua speaking skills in order to face the challenges during the interview. Also I will ready my dressing and behave well to face the interview
My Career and Further Education
No matter I will graduate from associate degree or bachelor degree, I will try to find a NGO job. I want to work in a NGO which called Human rights monitor and be a project officer. The main duties of this job are providing administrative and coordinative support to specific projects or issues, coordinating with other organizations on various issues and working on projects specialised in anti-discrimination & issues related to other vulnerable groups, e.g. migrant worker affairs. I am confident to do well on this job because I cooperated with who worked on this job in a human right education programme. Doubtless, it can fulfil my basic life needs and my ideal believes at the same time. After that ,I will try to seek for higher post in the organization.
Moreover, I will go for further education except working, I will try to study a master degree in the subject which I studied in degree. And I will take Chinese calligraphy lesion in to enrich my spiritual life.
Extra Elements of Lifelong learning
There is something that I didn’t have a plan to take lesson to learn but I study it as a life time interest that is reading history books. I believe that history can make me wiser when I understand the past and encourage me in the bad situation when I see how history heroes face their difficulties.
Conclusion
Life is never easy and holding a belief is even more difficult. Although my plans and aims may be changed when I become more mature, my learning process in my life and the exploring of the society will never stop. Expect learning for gaining own life, lifelong learning is also a process to make our life to be substantial and our intension of life will be richen by the knowledge. I will try to take a balance between ideal ,and real life, also material and spiritual life.
References:
Books
Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner (2001), “Education for the 21st century: A lifetime to learn”. In Bhaskara Rao (Ed.), Education for the 21st century. (p. 13), New Delhi: Discovery Publishing House
World Wide Web
Community College of City University (2006) Top-up Degree Programmes. [Online] .Available: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/cccu/cccu_topup_prog.htm [November 29, 2007]
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan government (2007) Lifelong Learning. [Online] .Available: http://www.mext.go.jp/english/org/lifelong/11a.htm [November 29, 2007]
