Lifelong learning is the "ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. 

Therefore, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development, but also self-sustainability, as well as competitiveness and career growth.

Competency-based learning is a learning approach where learners move from one learning level to a higher one based on their demonstration of knowledge rather than based on time spent on a specific course. 

This learning approach ensures that learners learn at their own pace and focus more on mastery of knowledge and valuable skills. It ensures that learners retain knowledge and attain a specific degree of mastery of a particular subject before moving onto the next level of learning.

An individual learning plan is a student-directed planning and monitoring tool that customizes learning opportunities throughout students' experience, broadens their perspectives, and supports attainment of goals. 

The individual learning plan documents students’ interests, needs, supports, course selections and other learning experiences in accordance with his or her preferences. This information produces a thoughtful programme of study leading to successful completion of courses and training program

Professional certification is the process by which a person proves that he or she has the knowledge, experience and skills to perform a specific job and the tasks in which they have been trained. 

The proof comes in the form of a certificate which is earned by passing one or more exams that were developed by an organisation or association that monitors and upholds the prescribed standards for the particular industry involved.