UNESCO has included 64 cities from 35 countries in the Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), recognising their efforts to facilitate lifelong learning at the local level.
The new cities were announced on 14 February during the virtual event «Empowering Learners of All Ages: UNESCO Learning Cities Transform Lives».
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international network of cities that are successfully promoting lifelong learning in their communities. The new Learning Cities were included in the network on the recommendation of a panel of experts. The key prerequisites for this are: a strong commitment to lifelong learning by the Mayor and the City Council, as well as a track record of good practice and policy initiatives.
«A key role»
«Cities play a key role in making the right to education a tangible reality for people of all ages,» UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay is quoted as saying in a media release. «With the new members, the network now comprises 356 member cities from all over the world, sharing their know-how and paving the way for lifelong learning for 390 million citizens.»
New cities included include Dakar, Alexandria, Bangkok, Liège, La Paz and Dresden.
So far, Lausanne is the only Learning City in Switzerland.