72 cities added to UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities

• UNESCO added 72 new cities from 46 countries to the Global Network of Learning Cities, recognising their outstanding commitment to making the right to education across all ages a reality for all at the local level.

• With this expansion, the Global Network of Learning Cities, launched in 2013, now includes 425 cities from 91 countries, collectively supporting lifelong learning opportunities for nearly 500 million citizens.

• Three Indian cities — Warangal (Telangana), Thrissur (Kerala), and Nilambur (Kerala) — were added to the list in 2022.

UNESCO Global Network of Learning cities

• The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practice.

• It consists of cities that successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities. 

• The network’s mission is to support and accelerate the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s communities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities, forging links, fostering partnerships, building capacities and developing instruments to encourage and recognise progress in building learning cities.

• A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all.

UNESCO learning cities:

i) Effectively mobilises its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education.

ii) Revitalises learning in families and communities.

iii) Facilitates learning for and in the workplace.

iv) Extends the use of modern learning technologies.

v) Enhances quality and excellence in learning.

vi) Fosters a culture of learning throughout life.

• In doing so, the city enhances individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.

• The network is based on two documents: the Beijing Declaration on Building Learning Cities and the Key Features of Learning Cities. These documents were adopted at the first International Conference on Learning Cities in 2013. 

• UNESCO GNLC opened for membership in 2015. 

• UNESCO Learning Cities are dynamic communities where learning is embedded in everyday life – across schools, workplaces, libraries, homes, and public spaces. 

• They create opportunities for all: reskilling and upskilling workers to meet evolving job markets, providing literacy for those who missed out in early years, empowering citizens of all ages to navigate and shape the AI era, and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets.

• The Network supports the achievement of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDG 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all) and SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable).

• UNESCO GNLC members are cities, represented by mayors or other formally endorsed city representatives.

• A strong commitment to lifelong learning by the mayor and city administration and a track record of good practices and policy initiatives are key pre-requisites for becoming a learning city.

• The cities were added in recognition of their outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level.