The conference will address two themes which will top the future agenda for European professional higher education, namely lifelong learning and the welfare society.

Lifelong Learning is hailed by many European member states as an instrument to address the problem of a decreasing working population and to undercut the need for an increasingly better  educated labour force. 

 "At first sight Lifelong Learning may be regarded as an inclusive part of professional higher education, which has always been closely linked to the professional life of its students and alumni. In reality, it is not so evident that institutions cover the entire learning life span of a student", explains Klaas Vansteenhuyse (Leuven University College - BE, coordinator of the FLLLEX project). 

The "Welfare Society" topic is in line with the 2012 European Commission's  theme of  'Active Ageing'. The second track, which examines the effects of the ageing society on welfare provisions, and the readiness of professional higher education to tackle this issue, will be provided by the Danish university colleges, members of EURASHE. The 'Leuven' BFUG chair  Frank Vandenbroucke is scheduled to hold the first keynote speech, linking the two themes from the perspective of a former Minister of  Education, Employment and  of Social Affairs. Professor Dr.Phil & Lic.Oecon. Jorn Henrik Petersen, from the Centre for Welfare State Research at the University of Southern Denmark, will be the second keynote speaker for this theme. Ministers of Latvia and Cyprus (the latter holding the next EU Presidency in 2012) have expressed their support for this overarching theme.