Abstract:
The paper conceptualises on the experiences of the Centre of Information
Society Technologies (CIST), Sofia University, Bulgaria, in serving the
learning and training needs of non-university audiences who fall in situations
that can be described as lifelong learning-determined. In developing this
conceptualisation we use the research findings and policy agendas in two
distinct areas – Lifelong Learning, and Higher Education Systems. More
specifically we explore the organisational and management issues and
challenges of the quite interesting situation of a structure behaving “in
between” the market shaped lifelong learning demands, and the rules and
practices of “classical university” structures to which CIST is subordinated. As
a result of these three streams of thought and practice we outline an ‘interface’
model of university interdisciplinary structure, which aims to explicitly meet
the demands of the lifelong learning market.