The concept of lifelong learning has always been central to adult and Essay

The concept of lifelong learning has always been central to adult and vocational education - Essay Example According to the concept of lifelong learning, being knowledgeable and acquiring new and latest knowledge continually is not a preserve of children or classroom surroundings. Instead, lifelong learning emphasises that people should learn throughout their lifetime, their circumstances notwithstanding (Wang, 2008). There are numerous reasons for which lifelong learning has been rather interesting subject in the last five decade. For instance, the role of the currently observed technological and scientific innovations in necessitating lifelong learning among professionals has been extensively debated in recent times. In fact, as a result of the technological and scientific advances realised in different spheres of life, the professional and learning needs of people have continued to change every other day (Wang, 2008). That is, there is no longer a restricted or preferred age, time or place for learning and related activities. In fact, school is no longer the only place people can obtai n knowledge in as more people resort to acquiring knowledge and skills at the workplace. Today, people learn even by the mere interaction with others around them who are not necessarily their teachers or instructors. This paper explores the purposes and conceptions of lifelong learning, vocational education and the relationship between lifelong learning and vocational education. Purposes and Conceptions of Lifelong Learning The many contexts within which the term â€Å"lifelong learning† is used imply that there are quite a number of conceptions by which the term is regarded. That is, the exact meaning of the term is prone to a lot of debates depending on the circumstances in which it is used. These meanings, however, expand beyond the traditional concept of schooling. The first type of lifelong learning is home schooling in which learning takes place in informal settings and patterns. The second type of lifelong learning is adult learning (Wang, 2008). In this category, life long learning entails the acquisition of knowledge and work skills in later life. The third category of lifelong learning is referred to as continuing education in which extension courses are offered in higher learning institutions. Fourth, lifelong learning could refer to on-the-job training or work knowledge in which learners seek to develop their skills and professions. The other meaning of lifelong learning is self-directed/personal learning in which an individual applies a variety of techniques and tools such as the Internet/E-learning. The success and applicability of the above meanings of lifelong learning depend on the professionals such as a coach, a trainer, a consultant, a mentor, a curriculum designer, a competency assessor or a training project manager that oversees their implementation (Wang, 2008). There are several reasons for which people increasingly resort to lifelong learning. Generally, this is a knowledge generation and peoples’ capacity to use the right knowledge in executing tasks is a skill that can no longer be ignored. Peoples’ professional success depends on the effective application of the right knowledge in task implementation. By acquiring more and divergent knowledge, people are able to approach issues with different perspectives and fascinating arguments, making the workplace more

Maritime Technology 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Maritime Technology 2 - Essay Example Development of Container Ships Container ships are usually defined in terms of TEU or twenty foot equivalent units. An 8500 TEU for example can transport 8500; twenty foot equivalent units of containers between two ports. With time being a critical factor for most globalized operations and fuel costs increasing by the day it has become inevitable for the shipping owners to transport maximum number of containers possible in one single voyage. This has lead to a continuous research and study into the development of new designs of increased capacity that would be capable of withstanding the rigours at sea. At the time, it should also be able to navigate easily through different canals and seas offering varying degrees of drafts. (Container Ship Types, 2000) Source: 4250 TEU Container ship, (Container Ship Focus, June 2006) Technical Requirements Purchasing of 18000 TEU ships is a matter of great achievement for any company and it is said that only Maersk which is the leader in Container ship transportation have ventured into buying 10 number of ships from Daewoo. The increased container capacity poses lot of technical queries, which need to be taken care of. 1. To account for the increased number of containers the length and width of the ship would be needed to be increased proportionately. This increase would again pose problems to the ships manovereability. It is known that ships have to navigate through various canals that exist between high seas to cross across continents. The PanaMax of size 4100 TEU’s delivered in 1980 was the largest to be delivered in those times and was named by its ability to pass through the Panama Canal. There was however no major change in the next twelve years and the size hovered around 4500-5500 TEU’s. Ships of length 294.1m, width 32.3m and draft of 12m was the maximum dimension of a ship capable of passing the Panama Canal. An accident leading to the slippage of 4 containers containing lethal arsenic oxide into the sea in 1992 near New Jersey lead to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopting the guidelines on safe securing of cargoes and became part of the International Convention for Safety of life at sea, 1974. (SOLAS) This required the ship must have a Cargo securing manual approved by the Flag State.( Container Ship Types, 2000) Most container ships built thereafter were an offshoot of the PanaMax category with increased TEU. The Post-PanaMax built in 1996 had a capacity of 6400TEU. By 1999 this size had increased to 9000 TEU’s. These ships have cell guides which enable better arrangement of container cargo above deck. However five cargo holds were unprotected from rain and rough seas which made it very critical to have an efficient bilge or waste water disposal system. The Suez-Max Large container ships (ULCS) built thereafter were capable of carrying 12000 TEU’s. The Post-Suez-Max ships are classified as those ships which can carry capacities upto 18000 TEU. Th is would require a ship breadth of 60m with a maximum draft of 21m. The Suez Canal is being revamped to accommodate these increased sizes of ships in the current years. Ships of 18000TEU are classified as Malacca Max since the Malacca strait offers a draft of 21m. The harbours of Singapore and Rotterdam are the other ports that offer such drafts. (Container Ship Types, 2000). Therefore it is inevitable that while placing orders for such large container shi