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Central European Journal of Educational Research

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Continuity and Innovation in Educational Sciences

Research papers

Learning communities in the various settings of lifelong learning

Published:
2026-06-03
DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.37441/cejer/2026/8/1/17117
Authors
Edina Márkus PhD,
Ágnes Engler,
Judit Kerülő,
Peshawa Bibani ,
Gábor Erdei,
Erika Juhász
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Keywords
learning communities lifelong learning community learning higher education vocational education and training active ageing cultural learning non-formal learning
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How To Cite
Selected Style: APA
Márkus PhD, E., Engler, Á., Kerülő, J., Bibani , P. ., Erdei, G., & Juhász, E. (2026). Learning communities in the various settings of lifelong learning. Central European Journal of Educational Research, 8(1), 162-171. https://doi.org/10.37441/cejer/2026/8/1/17117
Abstract

This paper examines the role and functions of learning communities across different contexts of lifelong learning, focusing on higher education, vocational education and training, learning in later life, and cultural learning environments. Drawing on sociocultural learning theories and the concept of communities of practice, the study interprets learning as a socially embedded process shaped through participation, interaction, and shared meaning-making. The paper applies a conceptual and interpretive approach to explore how community-based learning manifests across diverse educational and cultural settings. The analysis highlights that learning communities extend beyond formal educational institutions and constitute important spaces for knowledge creation, social participation, and identity formation. In higher education, they foster student integration and intergenerational learning; in vocational education, workplace environments function as collaborative learning spaces supporting professional socialization; in later life, community learning contributes to active ageing and social inclusion; while cultural institutions provide alternative arenas for non-formal and informal learning. The findings suggest that learning communities represent a key framework of lifelong learning by strengthening the social embeddedness of knowledge and supporting participation and personal development throughout the life course.

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