Mantes-la-Jolie, France

Creating a new future for the city through lifelong learning

Mantes-la-Jolie is situated 50 km east of Paris. Due to its location next to a regional park, it is also referred to as a ‘countryside city’.

Vision and Motivation

Mantes-la-Jolie’s motivation to become a Learning City is tied to its desire to act as an incubator for ambitious projects. Implemented well, the Learning Cities concept will facilitate the city’s strategic transformation. The Learning Cities concept is a useful connector that will allow Mantes-la-Jolie to create a new future by strengthening civic engagement and revitalizing itself.

Challenges and Goals

Mantes-la-Jolie is known for its socially disadvantaged housing estate, Val Fourré, where 50 per cent of adolescents are unemployed and 30 per cent of the population have no qualifications. Developing into a Learning City requires Mantes-la-Jolie to open up new perspectives by progressively improving its image, boosting citizens’ confidence in themselves and the future, and protecting the environment.

Plan and Implementation

The city plans to involve all stakeholders in its strategic policies. It will encourage its citizens to view learning as a tool for social integration, and help organizations to become centres of learning that continuously enhance their employees’ skills and performance. The city has defined four key indicators, which are recalibrated annually: salary levels; qualification levels; security barometers; and quality-of-life markers. Mantes-la-Jolie already provides a number of learning opportunities, such as the ‘College of Excellence’, ‘Appart’utile’ (providing information and advice for local tenants) or ‘Female Entrepreneurship’ (helping women to implement their business ideas). The ‘Citizen in my City’ programme funds projects for adolescents, who carry out voluntary activities in the community in return. The city received an ‘EcoQuartiers’ (eco-districts) award in 2015 to mark its innovative approach and commitment to environmental issues.