UNESCO 4th Conference on Learning Cities

UNESCO 4th Conference on Learning Cities
UNESCO HQ Paris – COLOMBIA Medellin
25 September – 3rd October 2019

 

Every two years, an International Conference is held by UNESCO to promote Learning Cities putting into light the progress realized by cities all over the world providing lifelong learning and better urban quality of life.

In 2019, the main theme of the Conference was ‘Inclusion: a Principle for Lifelong Learning Cities’.

The aim of the Conference was to discuss and promote “effective lifelong learning policies and practices that support the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities”.

Four Objectives had to provide the debates with some basic ideas on that way : a strong common understanding of “the potential of inclusion as a part of lifelong learning and sustainable development”; the identification of “public policies and planning approaches that strengthen inclusion at the city level as a priority for lifelong learning”; for the benefit of every one to “share examples of local actions towards inclusion through lifelong learning”; to “highlight monitoring mechanisms of the progress made towards the implementation of local inclusion strategies”.

 

Following the commitment of the Learning Cities, the ‘Medellin Manifesto: Learning Cities for Inclusion‘ was adopted during the Conference. All the participants: UN Agencies, Mayors, Private Sector, Civil society, Experts in Education, affirmed that “inclusion has to be considered as a principle for lifelong learning and sustainable cities”.

Recognizing that the importance of the urbanization nowadays offers opportunities to “give birth to new ideas, innovative practices … to find local solutions to emerging challenges”, the participants have adopted the 2019 Medellin Manifesto.

ASSETS OF A LEARNING CITY  

A Learning Citý mobilizes it’s resources in a view to promote opportunities to implement lifelong learning activities using public spaces of the city.
A Learning City promotes training within families and communities to implement better citizenship.
A Learning City works to promote the cooperation of benevolent people having a solid education on special matters to be able to provide help to trainees.
A Learning City creates “networks of citizens participation” to encourage citizens to take part in the decisions of the city.
Learning Cities have, by the way, the possibility of being facilitators providing interaction between all participants.

LEARNING CITIES CONTRIBUTION 

Empowerment of people can be the result of an alternate pedagogy for all.
Social cohesion and Inclusion can take birth from middle schools for migrants or free online courses.
Offering mobile libraries and information, Learning Cities help to professional orientation, cultural diversity and prosperity.
Among the Network of UNESCO Learning Cities, ten new cities were laureates in 2019.

 

 

UNESCO NETWORK OF LEARNING CITIES  

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities  (GNLC) is an “International policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practices”. The Network makes more alive Education for all from basic to higher education. It is an “International policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practices”. Sharing innovative ideas and concrete practices between Learning Cities is a basic way to become better and better for the inclusion of all in the City.

The basic principles refer to the 17 Sustainable development Goals and particularly SDG 4 relating to Education and SDG 11 concerning sustainable urban planning: on the one hand  “Inclusion and equitable quality education promote lifelong learning opportunities” and on the other hand, “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” can become a reality.

UNESCO GNLC promotes policy dialogue and peers learning between cities, cultures and diversity. Strong links and friendships encourage strengthening the action of new learning cities. We can quote for example the city of Hamburg which is a new Learning Cities that joined the Network.

 

 

LEARNING CITIES LAUREATES 2019 

 

Arab States, Egypt
Aswan, Gardening and Water

Linking SDG 11 and 4, towards sustainable cities, Aswan works to implement courses on gardening and on water for children in different schools of the city.

Asia, People’s Republic of China
Chengdu, Walks in the City.

Different routes are implemented around the city to work on a special subject to allow the discovery of traditional culture and industry.

Europe, Greece
Heraklion, Sport and Education

The program “Fit for All” is implemented for encounters and meetings between citizens and refugees. Sport and educational activities are based on local cultures and traditions.

Africa, Nigeria
Ibadan, Inclusive Education.

A Festival of Learning Workshops for different target audiences takes place to allow encounters the result of which is an inclusive education.

Latin America and Caribbean, Colombia
Medellin, Violence and Poverty.

The program aimed to reintegrate 7000 school dropouts giving them the possibility of resilience and a new departure in their own’s lives.

Europe, Ukraine
Melitopol, Displaced People and Citizenship

The objective of the city is to show displaced persons that they are an interesting opportunity for the city and not a problem.

Asia and Pacific, Malaysia
Petaling Jaya, Transportation and Learning Places

Free bus service is implemented along special city routes to access public learning spaces. This is a view to strengthen social, environmental and economic development.

Latin America and Caribbean Mexico
Santiago, Robotic and anti-bullying.

The objective of the Municipality is to offer an opportunity for children. Free classes for them include courses on robotic and anti-bullying training.

Asia and the Pacific, Republic of Korea
Seodaemengu, Standards and Quality of Life

Here the Municipality helpt to live in high-rise apartments different families who constitute small learning communities.

A course a week is organized in every citizens’ living room for 52 weeks. Families learn standards to have a better quality of life for the citizens.

Europe, Denmark
SØnderborg, Strategy 4 – 17 – 42

The Municipality has a strong commitment including political views, partnerships and quality education.

The municipal strategy is based on 4 – 17 – 42

4: four political commitments  (environmental, economic, social and cultural)
17: the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals.
42: 42 Key Features of Learning Cities included in the UNESCO GNLC around inspiration know-how, best practices.

As a way of conclusion, we could add that

UNESCO Conference on Learning Cities was followed by a week of meetings, encounters, panels on the occasion of the World Day of Cities “Sustainable Cities” held at UNESCO HQ in Paris. 24 October and 31 October were two important moments on the matter.

During the week from 24 to 31 October were held a Conference on “Livable Cities for All”, meetings and encounters with Representatives of different United Nations Agencies such as UN-HABITAT, FAO, UNHCR, in order “to amplify the UN concerted action for cities alongside city planners and other urban players.

The partnerships also aim to support a comprehensive UN approach to working towards sustainable cities”.

On 31 October, Representatives of 24 Municipalities around the world were invited to debate. On the occasion of this week, 64 new cities joined the UNESCO Network on Creative Cities.

To be a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities or, of the UNESCO Network on Creative Cities, offers to each city involved in sustainability, an irreplaceable opportunity to meet other cities all around the world and share objectives, best practices and, why not, challenges to face in our more and more urbanized world.

Reported by Janine Marin, ISOCARP’s Representative to UNESCO