Life-long learning in virtual learning organisations: Designing virtual learning environments

Life-long learning is an instrument for knowledge workers to stay up-to-date in an innovative economy. So far higher education has not been very successful in realising life-long learning. A possibly helpful educational concept is the 'virtual learning organisation'. The newly founded Dutch Digital University, for example, has taken this concept on board. Virtual learning organisation, however, is a 'container' concept. Questions are: what constitutes a virtual learning organisation and how can it be constructed in different domains? In this paper the virtual learning organisation is seen as an extension of the normal work situation of the knowledge worker. A model is presented for knowledge work and career development in such innovative organisations that have been used in practice to construct a successful virtual learning organisation.