The first International Conference on Learning Cities, which was co-organised by UNESCO, the Ministry of Education of China and Beijing Municipal Government, took place from 21–23 October, 2013 in Beijing. The aim of this conference was to mobilize cities to promote lifelong learning for all as a vector of equality and social justice, social cohesion and sustainable prosperity. The specific objectives of the conference were:
• Adoption of the Beijing Declaration on Building Learning Cities and the Key Features of Learning Cities; and
• Exchange of best practices in building learning cities in the international community.
Over 550 delegates from 102 countries attended. These included mayors, city education executives, education experts, and representatives of UN agencies, regional organisations, non-governmental associations and international corporations. Senior international, national and municipal representatives, includingVice-Premier of China Ms Liu Yandong and Mayor of Beijing Mr Wang Anshun (Chairman of the Conference ), addressed plenary sessions and regional panels. Discussions focussed on the stages of development necessary to turn cities into learning cities; communities that nurture active citizenship, promote economic and cultural prosperity and lay the foundation for sustainable development. UNESCO Director-General Ms Irina Bokova hailed the Conference as “a milestone” that goes “to the heart of UNESCO’s work in lifelong learning”.
Download: Conference Report: International Conference on Learning Cities - Beijing, China ( PDF 1,49 MB)
- Author/Editor: Jin Yang; Raúl Valdés-Cotera
- Conference Report: International Conference on Learning Cities - Beijing, China
- UIL, 2014
- ISBN 978-92-820-1184-3
- Available in: English, French, Spanish
