LEARNING CITIZENS IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: THE PATH TOWARDS LIFELONG LEARNING AND NATIONAL INNOVATION

This article explores the concept of “Learning Citizens in the Digital Transformation Era” as both a theoretical framework and a practical approach to national development. In the digital age, learning citizens are not only individuals who engage in continuous education but also active agents who contribute to building digital competencies, fostering knowledge creation, and sustaining a culture of lifelong learning. Positioned within the broader context of digital transformation, this concept highlights the critical relationship between personal learning capacity and the collective pursuit of innovation, digital governance and sustainable growth. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the paper examines how learning citizens serve as the foundation of a knowledge-based society, where education and digital literacy become essential drivers of social inclusion and economic competitiveness. Furthermore, by analyzing “pathways to lifelong learning and national innovation,” the study emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies that link education policies, digital infrastructure and community participation. The findings underline the dual significance of learning citizens: as a theoretical construct enriching global discourse on lifelong education and as a practical imperative guiding national strategies in the era of digital transformation.