News

More than half the world’s population lives in cities today. The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities has 170 active members from 53 countries in every region of the world. Each city in the network has implemented effective lifelong learning policies and practices that support the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

These ground-breaking cities will come together in Medellín, Colombia, from 1 to 3 October 2019, for the fourth International Conference on Learning Cities. The theme of the conference, jointly organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the city of Medellín, is ‘Inclusion – A Principle for Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Cities’.

The President of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, will open the conference on 1 October together with Firmin Edouard Matoko (UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations), David Atchoarena (UIL Director), Federico Gutiérrez (Mayor of Medellín, Colombia), and John Sheehan (Mayor of Cork, Ireland). In the following plenary and workshop sessions, 650 representatives, including mayors and experts, from all world regions will discuss strategies to reinforce inclusion and equity in education and help advance the right to education for all vulnerable and marginalized groups. They will share their experiences concerning the promotion of lifelong learning policies and practices for all.

Conference participants will adopt a two-year strategy to enhance further the work of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Moreover, a fund to support the work of the network will be launched.

Conference agenda

UNESCO Learning Cities Award Ceremony

30 September 2019, 17:00 - 20:00

On 30 September 2019, 10 learning cities will be honoured in an award ceremony for their good practice in promoting quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. The awardees are Aswan (Egypt), Chengdu (People’s Republic of China), Heraklion (Greece), Ibadan (Nigeria), Medellín (Colombia), Melitopol (Ukraine), Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Santiago (Mexico), Seodaemun-gu (Republic of Korea) and Sønderborg (Denmark).

Venue: Biblioteca Pública Piloto, Carrera 64 No. 50 - 32 | Barrio Carlos E. Restrepo, Medellín

Award ceremony

Press Conferences

1 October 2019, 10:00 - 10:30

Statements from the President of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez, Firmin Edouard Matoko (UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations), David Atchoarena (Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning), and Federico Gutiérrez (Mayor of Medellín, Colombia)

Questions & Answers

2 October 2019, 17:15 - 17:45

Statements on conference outcomes from David Atchoarena (Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning), and Federico Gutiérrez (Mayor of Medellín, Colombia)

Questions & Answers

Venue: Plaza Mayor Medellín Conventions and Exhibitions centre, Calle 41, No. 55–80. Plaza Mayor, Medellín

Languages

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided for the award ceremony and the conference in English, French and Spanish.

Background

Learning cities are key drivers to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. They provide good policies and practices, fostering sustainable development at various levels, notably through lifelong learning. The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, coordinated by UIL, supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.

URL:

http://uil.unesco.org/lifelong-learning/learning-cities/unesco-conference-learning-cities-focus-inclusion