A Case Study on a System of Promoting Life-long Education in a Local Government

终身学习已经成为一个流行语。过去，地方政府教育委员会中的社会教育部门主导着终身学习的管理。然而，最近，市长办公室和私营部门实体加深了对这一领域的参与。鉴于这种新的发展，已经成立了新的委员会来协调广泛的终身学习设施和计划。我们研究了如何在地方政府行政部门建立促进终身学习的协调机制。我们研究了X市的案例，因为它的倡议看起来最有希望。根据我们的分析，我们建议成立一个促进终身学习的新组织时，应满足以下条件：1)该组织应有市长办公室和教育委员会的参与；2)社会教育部门应由积累的知识领导；3)有关各方应至少花费一年时间，建立对终身学习理念和过程的共识。4)应培训负责终身学习的专业人员。他们应该熟悉公众的需求。5)应设立新的办公室或部门，以协调终身学习。他们需要了解公众不断变化的关切，以便服务能够满足新出现的需求。

Life-long learning has become a buzzword. In the past the division of social education in the local government's board of education had dominant control over the administration of life-long learning. Recently, however, the mayor's office and private-sector entities have deepened their involvement in this area. In view of such a new development, new committees have been set up to coordinate the broad range of life-long learning facilities and programs.We examined the way how a coordinated mechanism to promote life-long learning can be established in the local government administration. We studied the case of X City because its initiative appears most promising.Based on our analysis we suggest that the following conditions be met when a new organization is to be created for the promotion of life-long learning.1) The organization should have the involvement of mayor's office as well as the board of education.2) The division of social education, given accumulated knowhows, should have the leadership.3) Parties concerned should spend at least one year to build up common understanding about the philosophy and processes of life-long learning.4) Professional staff in charge of life-long learning should be trained. They should be familiar with the public needs.5) New offices or divisions should be created to coordinate life-long learning. They need to be aware of changing concerns of the public so that the services can meet the emerging needs.