Guest editorial: UALL Conference 2012

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to present the second in an annual series of selected papers from the 2012 Conference of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL). The Conference, at Clare College, Cambridge, took as its theme Higher education for the social good? The place of lifelong learning.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is an editorial.Findings – The editorial explores the conference theme and introduces the papers in this issue.Originality/value – The five papers are indicative of the theme of the conference and, more generally of all those involved in lifelong learning.