Cities are engines of economic growth, and learning is one of the most important ways of fuelling that growth. That is why many urban communities are building ‘learning cities’. This involves developing innovative strategies that enable citizens of all ages to learn new skills and competencies throughout life.

Why learning cities?

The idea of learning throughout life is deeply rooted in all cultures. However, it is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s fast-changing world, where social, economic and political norms are constantly being redefined. 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 the transition to sustainable societies.

While national governments are largely responsible for creating strategies for building learning societies, we know that lasting change requires commitment at the local level. A learning society must be built province by province, city by city, and community by community.