Bursa, Turkey

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We are building Bursa, a city that generates added value from technology, science, culture and art, shares its resources more equitably, and learns from both the past and the future, by drawing on its educational ecosystem, historical background, cultural richness and geography to focus on a culture of lifelong learning, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr Alinur Aktaş

Mayor

An important cultural and commercial city

Thanks to its strategic location on the Silk Road, Bursa has always been an important cultural and commercial city. With its rich history, natural beauty, and established social and economic structures, Bursa remains – and maintains – a unique model of urbanism as the ‘city where cultures come together’. Today, Bursa is Turkey’s fourth largest city and makes an important contribution to the country’s automotive, textile, machinery and food sectors.  

Vision and Strategy

We want to ensure equal access to education at all levels by increasing the number of education centres, and by including vulnerable people in the lifelong learning ecosystem. Additionally, our lifelong learning strategy prioritizes employment and technological adaptation by creating innovative models of vocational education, and by developing new methods and approaches to adult education. Lastly, our lifelong learning strategy aims to establish a vision of lifelong education that reflects the city's economic structure, as well as its scientific and technological developments.  

Policies, Plan and Implementation

Sustainability and health

• Health and sustainability goals occupy an important place in the Bursa Learning City Strategy. The ‘zero waste project’, for example, was initiated to ensure an integrated approach to waste management, and training opportunities are organized to increase awareness of zero waste. 

Equity and inclusion

• Several studies were carried out to reorganize existing educational processes (educational facilities, curricula, etc.) in order to meet the needs of all learners regardless of their gender, ethnicity, language, religion, place of residence, health, and socio-economic status. To achieve equity and inclusion, all stakeholders in Bursa’s learning ecosystem work in close cooperation. 

Decent work and entrepreneurship

• The urban employment, innovation and entrepreneurship network implements educational activities to maintain the sustainability of the city’s employment and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Training opportunities and learning activities are provided to encourage the production and sale of local products, to improve the conditions of individuals in rural areas, and to strengthen the economic and social infrastructure of women's cooperatives. 

Good practices

Free arts and vocational training consultancy services

• Training courses for individuals who want to improve their artistic skills and thereby ensure their professional and social development. 

Bursa Metropolitan Youth Club

• Platform showcasing educational, sports, social, cultural and artistic activities for young people, including seminars, workshops, tournaments and festivals, among others. 

Silk City Bursa

• This rural development project aims to eliminate inequalities at the provincial and regional levels by enabling women to re-enter the production process. Vocational training is offered to women working in the field of sericulture and silk weaving.