Capacity-Building Workshop: Empowering Cities to Become Key Players for Lifelong Learning Advancement

Date: 21 to 25 October 2024 in Shanghai, China  

Venue: Guoshun Campus, Shanghai Open University, Shanghai, China 

Organizers: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Shanghai Open University 

Participation: By invitation only

UNESCO learning cities are key drivers of local-level sustainability in both urban and rural areas. To strengthen the capacities of local governments and other stakeholders in developing strategic approaches to promote the learning cities concept, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and Shanghai Open University (SOU) will host a workshop titled ‘Empowering Cities to Be Key Players for Lifelong Learning Advancement’ from 21 to 25 October 2024 in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. This workshop will be preceded and followed by an online phase hosted on the UIL Learning Hub from September to November 2024. 

The workshop is designed for selected UNESCO Member States from Asia and the Pacific and Africa. During the workshop, nine country teams comprising national and municipal policymakers will engage with in-depth learning materials and collaborate with other participants and experts to develop learning city strategies. Activities will cover all strategic areas of learning city development, as outlined in the Key Features of Learning Cities publication, and will address key thematic areas such as sustainable development and climate action, where learning cities play a leading role.   

As an outcome, cities represented by participating country teams will develop a learning city strategy and be empowered to play pivotal roles in implementing lifelong learning initiatives. The workshop will draw upon insights from UIL’s flagship publication, Making Lifelong Learning a Reality: A Handbook to inform and enrich discussions. 

Working languages: 

The workshop will be conducted primarily in English, with interpretation available for some live sessions.