What is a Learning City?
A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all. UNESCO defines a learning city as a city that:
- effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education;
- revitalizes learning in families and communities;
- facilitates learning for and in the workplace;
- extends the use of modern learning technologies;
- enhances quality and excellence in learning; and
- 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.
NEWS 22042026 NO FEE FOR REPRODUCTION Dublin Learning City Festival was officially opened today by Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam, at an event in Charleville Mall Library. off Dublin’s North Strand. The festival, running from today Wednesday 22nd through to Saturday 25th April, aims to celebrate the inclusive learning possibilities in Dublin and to showcase the many organisations working to break barriers to education through a wide range of educational events. Pictured at today’s launch are Collette Cassidy, North West Learning City, Liam Quinn, Waterford Learning City, Patricia Magee, Belfast Learning City, Finola McTernan, Deputy Chairperson, Dublin Learning City, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, Denise McMarrow, Chairperson, Dublin Learning City.
In 2019, Dublin became a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) to promote Dublin as a learning region. UNESCO GNLC is an international policy-orientated network for inspiration, know-how and best practice. The Network supports the achievement of all seventeen 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’). The UNESCO GNLC supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities; forging links; fostering partnerships; providing capacity development; and developing instruments to encourage and recognize progress made in building learning cities.
Dublin Learning City believes lifelong learning is crucial to the quality of an individual’s life. We continually strive to revitalise learning within families, communities, enable effective learning for the workplace, create a vibrant culture of learning and most importantly enhance the quality and excellence in learning. We are encouraging all aspects of education to aid our project to promote Dublin as a Learning City.
