Capacity-Building Workshop: Strengthening Education Systems from a Lifelong Learning Perspective

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

In many countries, the concept of lifelong learning remains unclear, with comprehensive policy frameworks for its promotion missing or underdeveloped, and the implementation of lifelong learning programmes inconsistent. Consequently, there is growing demand for guidance to strengthen the capacities of UNESCO Member States to establish lifelong learning as a conceptual framework and organizing principle within education systems. 

To address these demands, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), in collaboration with Shanghai Open University (SOU), is organizing the sixth workshop in its series on ‘Strengthening Education Systems from a Lifelong Learning Perspective’. The workshop will take place in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, from 21 to 25 October 2024, and will be preceded and followed by an online phase hosted on the UIL Learning Hub from September to November 2024. 

As part of the initiative, teams from five UNESCO Member States, consisting of key stakeholders such as policymakers and leading researchers involved in lifelong learning and education, will be guided in the development of a lifelong learning policy, implementation strategy or targeted action plan. This will be done through a variety of learning activities such as online meetings with experts and other country teams, as well as individual and collaborative tasks designed to deepen the participants’ understanding of the key topics and themes influencing lifelong learning policy development.  

During the in-person workshop in Shanghai, team leaders from each country team will work intensively to refine their team’s lifelong learning policy, implementation strategy, or targeted action plan. The workshop will incorporate insights from UIL’s flagship publication, Making Lifelong Learning a Reality: A Handbook. 

Working languages: 

The working language of the workshop is English, with the possibility of interpretation for some live sessions.