The concept of lifelong learning – managers’ expectations and youth attitudes

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to identify the attitudes of young people representing the so-called generation Z, towards the concept of lifelong learning in the context of managers' expectations. Design/methodology/approach: The article includes both a literature review and the authors’ own primary research. The study applies the results of qualitative (an individual in-depth interview) and quantitative (CAWI) research conducted in 2021 in Wielkopolska [Greater Poland]. Findings: The research shows that there is a large discrepancy between the managers’ expectations and the attitudes of young people towards the necessity to participate in lifelong learning. Managers pay attention to the extreme importance of the necessity to constantly learn new things not only in contemporary, but especially in the future, labor market. At the same time there is a relatively low level of acceptance of this necessity among people representing the generation Z. Research limitations/implications: In the future it is worth repeating the research among the representatives of generation Z living in other provinces and even other countries. Social implications: The article indicates that the development of lifelong learning skills requires, among others, developing a comprehensive education policy and cooperation between the public, private and civic sectors. It is also connected with the necessity to promote this concept in various environments – among different generations of employees, as well as young people soon entering the labor market. Originality/value: The obtained results confirm a large discrepancy between the managers’ expectations and the attitudes of young people towards the necessity to participate in lifelong learning. The article provides recommendations for paying attention to the need to teach young people the methods of effective self-learning and promote this concept in various environments.