Global education policy in the making: international organisations and lifelong learning

In recent years, policy scholars have increasingly turned towards the international level as a source for national policy change. This article conceptualises this development as the emergence of a global policy field of education. The example of lifelong learning is given to illustrate this global policy process. In the first part, I introduce global public policy, focussing on the process of internationalised policy‐making and international organisations as important actors in global policy fields. In the second part, I present the case study of lifelong learning, showing its worldwide diffusion, actors, instruments and policies involved in this process. I conclude with a brief summary and an outlook for further research.