Learning Cities across the globe celebrate International Day of Education 2022

The theme of this year’s International Day of Education on 24 January is ‘Changing course, transforming education’. Our world stands at a turning point: persistent inequalities, a hurting planet, growing polarization and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic puts us on the precipice of irreversible damage if we don’t radically change course. One of the keys to a more just society and sustainable development is lifelong learning. The challenges faced by the world, as captured in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, demand that we provide people with quality education and lifelong learning opportunities throughout their lives. UNESCO learning cities are central to this endeavour.

Driven by the principle of inclusion, the members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) advance policies and practices that foster sustainable development, notably through lifelong learning programmes that promote equity, cohesion and peace. To mark International Day of Education, UIL has asked UNESCO GNLC mayors from around the world to tell us how they employ lifelong learning to the benefit their communities and foster international exchange with other members of the network.

María Cecilia Altamirano, UNESCO Learning City of Jose C Paz, Buenos Aires Province (Argentina)	Cr. Goran Kesic, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Melton (Australia)	Ricardo Nunes, Mayor of the UNESCO learning city São Paulo (Brazil)
Manal Awad, Governor of the UNESCO Learning City of Damietta (Egypt)	Ritva Viljanen, Mayor of the UNESCO learning city Vantaa (Finland)	Stéphane Beaudet, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Evry-Courcouronnes (France)
Christel Dubois, UNESCO Learning City of Mantes La Jolie (France)	Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of the UNESCO learning city of Montpellier (France)	Vasilis Nanopoulos, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Corinth (Greece)
Teachers and city representatives of the UNESCO Learning City of Corinth (Greece)	Apostolos Kalogiannis, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Larissa (Greece)	Mayors of the Learning Cities of the Irish Network of Learning Cities
Alessandro Tambellini, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Lucca (Italy)	Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Turin (Italy)	Masao Omori, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Okayama (Japan)
Meng Hui, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Wuhan Committee and Director of Wuhan Education Bureau (People’s Republic of China)	Sangwook Kwak, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Osan (Republic of Korea)	Dimitrii Niskovskikh, Mayor of the UNESCO learning city of Sysert (Russian Federation)
Learners of the UNESCO Learning City of Sysert (Russian Federation)	Kolayuth Chaisang, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Chachoengsao (Thailand)	Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Konya (Turkey)
Hon Van Nguyen, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Sadec City (Viet Nam)

Events

In addition to numerous local celebrations to mark the UN International Day of Education, the UNESCO GNLC is also contributing to the #LearningPlanet Festival, which UNESCO is partnering with. Join the events:

• 24 January 2022, 10:30-12:00 CET - World Tour to the Festival with contributions from David Atchoarena, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, and Nam Seok-ko, Mayor of the UNESCO Learning City of Yeonsu, Republic of Korea
• 26 January 2022, 14:00-15:00 CET - Learning Ecosystems – a revolution in the making? with a contribution from Denise McMorrow, Co-Chair, UNESCO Learning City of Dublin

Background to the International Day of Education

In recognition of the role of education for peace and development, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January the International Day of Education. Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

Background to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) is an international, policy-oriented network geared towards knowledge production and sharing, peer learning and capacity-building. UNESCO GNLC members benefit from sharing lifelong learning policies and practices with other cities in the network; developing and exchanging knowledge on key challenges and solutions; taking part in training initiatives; and participating in regional and global events. Within the framework of its strategy for 2021–2023, the network is focusing on five key priorities areas of action: global citizenship education, education for sustainable development, health and well-being, planning, and inclusion.