Rural woman with laptop

UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning is key to overcoming global challenges and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Our rapidly changing world calls for opportunities to learn throughout life, for individual fulfilment, social cohesion and economic prosperity.

 

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) strengthens the capacities of Member States to build effective and inclusive lifelong learning policies and systems, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4. It aims to develop learning ecosystems that work across life, in every setting and benefit everyone through building capacity at local and national levels, strengthening partnerships, and offering data and knowledge.

Embracing a culture of lifelong learning

Creating a global culture of lifelong learning will be key to addressing the challenges faced by humanity, from the climate crisis to technological and demographic change, not to mention those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequalities it has exacerbated. Read our Embracing a culture of lifelong learning report and learn how to make it happen. 

Publication cover embracing a culture of lifelong learning
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to recognize the holistic character of lifelong learning.
three people holding hands
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to promote transdisciplinary research and intersectoral collaboration for lifelong learning.
library
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to place vulnerable groups at the core of the lifelong learning policy agenda.
boy reading a book in a landfill
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to establish lifelong learning as a common good.
mass of people portraits
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to ensure greater and equitable access to learning technology.
family learning on a tablet
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to transform schools and universities into lifelong learning institutions.
person looking at books in a library
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to recognize and promote the collective dimension of learning.
Women smiling
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to encourage and support local lifelong learning initiatives, including learning cities.
volunteers working at a community centre (clothing drive)
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to reengineer and revitalize workplace learning.
2 male workers looking at a paper together
To embrace a culture of lifelong learning, we have to recognize lifelong learning as a human right.
People justicia

Our flagship activities

Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII)
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC)
Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL)
COVID-19 response

Data and knowledge

The Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE)
The International Review of Education (IRE) – Journal of Lifelong Learning

Our stories

The power of literacy

How Annah, at the age of 70, decided to join forces with other grandmothers in her rural community in Uganda to learn how to read and write.

Grandmothers learning how to read
They call me worm

A story by German prisoner Johannes J. about life in prison and the transformative potential of libraries.

Prisoner reading a book
Lifelong learning in Shanghai

How the UNESCO learning city of Shanghai provides lifelong learning opportunities for its over 24.8 million citizens. 

Learners in Shanghai during COVID

Engage

Lifelong learning virtual exhibition

Call for contributions!

Publications

From emergency to resilience: building healthy and resilient cities through learning; fifth International Conference on Learning Cities, Yeonsu, Republic of Korea, 27 to 30 October 2021: conference report
UIL
2022
UNESCO
0000380657
Guidelines on open and distance learning for youth and adult literacy
UIL
COL
2021
UNESCO
0000379397
Education in prison: a literature review
UIL
2021
UNESCO
0000378059
Integrated approaches to literacy and skills development: examples of best practice in adult learning programmes
UIL
2021
UNESCO
0000378051
Inclusive lifelong learning in cities: Policies and practices for vulnerable groups
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
2021
UNESCO
0000379538
Snapshots of learning cities’ responses to COVID-19
UIL
2021
UNESCO
0000378050
Curriculum globALE: competency framework for adult educators
UIL
2021
UNESCO
0000377422