Lifelong learning. Why professionals must have the desire for and the capacity to continue learning throughout life.

This paper will outline the theoretical constructs pertaining to lifelong learning, adult education, continuing professional development and the learning society. The need for all professionals to have highly developed learning skills in a society racing with change is evident. Pressures placed on health information managers to continue their learning beyond graduation are many and varied. Continuing professional education is one avenue that enables health information managers to continue their learning beyond graduation. Attributes of a typical lifelong learner are included in this paper to enable readers to self-assess their capacity for continued learning and their desire to undertake it. The paper concludes with a list of strategies for learners to enhance their lifelong learning skills. The role that educators can play in developing lifelong learning competence in students and graduates is also outlined.