Dublin Learning City

Welcome

Dublin Learning City is a partnership that is collaborating to advance Dublin as a learning region, as defined by UNESCO. This exciting project is a Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) initiative that is funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Dublin Learning City is Chaired by Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).

Three-day event of 100+ activities will promote lifelong learning for all

Dublin Learning City Festival, taking place from the 15^th to 17^th of April, celebrates the inclusive learning possibilities in Dublin. The festival will showcase a wide range of events in-person and online from the many organisations working to break down barriers to education.

Free, fun and inclusive activities like tours, workshops, exhibitions, talks and many others will be enjoyed by attendees. The diverse programme covering an exciting mix of over 100 traditional and non-traditional learning events from a multitude of individuals and organisations from all over Dublin has something for all learners.

Denise McMorrow, Co-Chair of Dublin Learning City commented, “There are boundless learning opportunities for the people of Dublin and our Festival will showcase that education is open to all. Learning can transform your life for the better in so many ways. The empowerment and the enjoyment one can get from acquiring new skills is accessible to everyone in the city; people don’t know what’s out there.”

Dr Seán Delaney, Co-chair of Dublin Learning City continued, “Tours, talks, tutorials and workshops, Dublin Learning City Festival has it all. Working with the amazing organisations across Dublin to create a wide range of exciting and inclusive events has been incredible. We are really looking forward for everyone in Dublin to enjoy what we’ve been working on. ”

Dublin was established as a Learning City as defined by UNESCO in 2019 and received the UNESCO Learning City Award in 2021. The aim of the Dublin Learning City initiative is to ensure that education and learning is accessible for all individuals, regardless of background.

The project is fully funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Access Initiative that brings together people and organisations including the main education providers (UCD, TCD, NCAD, Marino Institute, IADT & RCSI) to target socially disadvantaged learners and encourage and support them to take up formal and informal learning opportunities at all stages of their lives.

Dublin Learning City has a strong partnership with Dublin City Council and the Education and Training Boards. Dublin joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2019. UNESCO GNLC support and improve the practice of lifelong learning in the world’s cities and recognise progress made in building learning cities.

For more information on the Dublin Learning City Festival, visit: www.dublinlearningcity.ie

#DLCFestival2024

Learning Neighbourhoods: Bringing Lifelong Learning Closer to Home

Dublin Learning City’s Learning Neighbourhoods programme is about one simple idea: everyone should be able to find learning, training and educational opportunities right on their own doorstep. Since the programme began, we’ve worked with local communities across the city to map out what’s already there, connect residents to it, and build networks that make lifelong learning part of everyday neighbourhood life.

So far, two areas of Dublin have been officially recognised as UNESCO Learning Neighbourhoods — with a third now underway.

Dublin awarded prestigious UNESCO Learning City Award 2021

Investing in human capital is crucial to Dublin’s successful development, and lifelong learning is key to this endeavour. As a learning city, it pursues the principle of ‘learning for work, life and fun’ through wide-ranging initiatives coordinated by six local colleges and institutes together with further partners. The ‘Your Place is Here’ campaign encouraging enrolment in higher education regardless of educational background, age, or individual circumstances, and the Healthy Dublin City project offering six learning programmes to improve citizens’ personal, physical and mental health are just two of the many initiatives available to Dublin’s population of more than 1.2 million.