A new UNESCO issue note , produced by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), aims to support education policy-makers and planners in utilizing the power of non-formal and informal learning to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. It explains lessons learned and suggests concrete measures for action.

In almost all countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, cities are the epicentres of infection and the frontlines for dealing with the vast...

More than 600 delegates from 180 cities in over 80 UNESCO Member States attended the third International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC), which took place from 18 to 20 September 2017 in Cork, Ireland. Under the theme ‘Global goals, local actions: Towards lifelong learning for all in 2030’, the event demonstrated the importance of implementing lifelong learning initiatives at the local level in order to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The outcome documents of the event, the Cork Call...

This Guide to Action highlights concrete approaches to the development of green and healthy learning cities, equitable and inclusive learning cities, and decent work and entrepreneurship in learning cities.

It includes examples of good practice, which demonstrate the diversity of initiatives and reflect the manifold contexts and development stages in which cities operate. The guiding questions highlight some important issues related to the respective thematic areas. Along with a selection of related Key Features of Learning Cities and Sustainable Development Goals, this can serve...

The population in cities continues to rise; in response to this increase, local governments are devising creative and innovative ways to promote lifelong learning and sustainable development. To highlight some of these approaches, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has published a second volume of learning city case studies from around the world, titled ‘ Unlocking the Potential of Urban Communities. Volume II. Case Studies of Sixteen Learning Cities ’.

This...

The Report on the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC), which took place from 28 to 30 September 2015 in Mexico City, has just been published. The Report details the proceedings and outcomes of the 2nd ICLC, which brought together over 650 participants from 95 countries to define the role of learning cities in shaping the Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Report provides information on how to develop sustainable learning cities, strengthen partnerships and networks, and implement the Key Features of Learning Cities. It also shares insights into how learning...

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has just published ‘Unlocking the potential of urban communities: Case Studies of twelve learning cities’ in cooperation with the showcased cities and with generous support from the National Institute for Lifelong Education of the Republic of Korea (NILE). The publication is the first of its kind. It showcases examples of cities from all over the world which use the learning city approach to enhance citizens’ individual empowerment, social cohesion, economic development, cultural prosperity and sustainable development.

The case...

The first International Conference on Learning Cities, which was co-organised by UNESCO, the Ministry of Education of China and Beijing Municipal Government, took place from 21–23 October, 2013 in Beijing. The aim of this conference was to mobilize cities to promote lifelong learning for all as a vector of equality and social justice, social cohesion and sustainable prosperity. The specific objectives of the conference were:

• Adoption of the Beijing Declaration on Building Learning Cities and the Key Features of Learning Cities; and

• Exchange of best practices in building...