Exploring Resources on Learning Cities — A Beginning

Lifewide Education

According to its website, this not-for-profit company’s aim is “to contribute to the development of people by promoting the concept of lifewide learning and education and providing encouragement and practical help to individuals and organisations who want to adopt, adapt and implement the idea.” It deems itself “an inclusive global community that works for and with its members,” encourages participation, and sends out a newsletter.

One tab on its Home page leads to information on Lifewide Education, another labeled "More…" links to information on learning cities, blogs, resources, etc.

The article on learning cities, “Learning Cities: ecosystems for lifewide-lifelong learning”, provides many resources. Authors point out that a majority of the world’s population already lives in cities and that by 2030, the proportion is likely to exceed sixty percent. They view the city as an ecosystem containing vast opportunities, resources, and potential for enabling people to learn and develop themselves in ways that meet their needs, interests, and ambitions. They contend lifewide education and learning have an important role to play in the practical development of learning cities.

Descriptions and reports/articles provided include:

• History of Learning Cities & Cities of Learning (UK Learning Cities Network, UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, American Cities of Learning, UK Cities of Learning)
• UNESCO Learning Cities and UNESCO Learning City Award
• 'Cities of Learning' (Chicago example: Chicago Summer of Learning)
• LRNG (learning) initiative in America
• European vision of learning in 2030

UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is “an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how, and best practice about learning cities.” To support and improve the practice of lifelong learning, it promotes policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities, forges links, fosters partnerships, provides capacity development, and develops instruments to encourage and recognize progress made in building learning cities.

According to the UNESCO GNLC, “Lifelong learning lays the foundation for sustainable social, economic, and environmental development.” GNLC reports, “Studies have shown that lifelong learners – citizens who acquire new knowledge, skills, and attitudes in a wide range of contexts – are better equipped to adapt to changes in their environments. Lifelong learning and the learning society therefore have a vital role to play in empowering citizens and effecting a transition to sustainable societies.”

A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all. UNESCO defines a learning city as a city that:

• effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education;
• revitalizes learning in families and communities;
• facilitates learning for and in the workplace;
• extends the use of modern learning technologies;
• enhances quality and excellence in learning; and
• fosters a culture of learning throughout life.

In doing so, the city enhances individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.

On the Website find:

• UNESCO GNLC Guiding documents, policy and research and conference reports (and videos).
• Guidelines for Building Learning Cities and a set of seven video tutorials made to support policy-makers, stakeholders, urban planners, and lifelong learning practitioners in building learning cities, based on the following themes: planning, involvement, celebration, accessibility, monitoring and evaluation, and funding.
• A webinar series "Learning Cities’ COVID-19 recovery: from research to practice,” with monthly sessions from June through November 2020 (https://uil.unesco.org/event/new-webinar-series-learning-cities-covid-19-recovery-research-practice).
• Video interview series on UNESCO Learning Cities Response to COVID-19 (https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/covid-19-response).