PrimeTimers Colloquia is a series of early evening debates for an engaged and informed examination of an issue that is strategic for the future of the third sector in the British economy and society.

The flexibility demanded by today’s global economy requires continual cross sector transfer of people and knowledge. Careers are necessarily becoming lifetime learning journeys rather than jobs for life. Yet the official skills agenda in focusing overwhelmingly on young people and current business needs fails to properly recognise the importance of lifelong learning and the potential offered by the third sector.

Each of five colloquia will bring together invited participants to focus on an issue integral to a lifelong learning agenda for the third sector. Individuals and representatives of organisations are invited to participate in this series of collaborative creative events that culminate in what we believe will be the first serious examination of the case for establishing a civil society university.

PrimeTimers Colloquia will provide for fully participative and informed debate in a series of five early evening sessions to be held at the London School of Economics (LSE) and 1 London Bridge. Each session is designed in partnership with an organisation with particular expertise in the area under debate and will include statements from a panel of experts before open discussion and a drinks reception after the debate. The series chair is Emeritus Professor Martin Albrow, Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Global Governance, LSE.