Learning Cities in Denmark

On 30 April 2015, a seminar on “The learning city” was organised by the Danish National Commission for UNESCO and the Danish Association for Adult Education. 20 participants, including representatives of Danish cities, met in Copenhagen to discuss the development of learning cities in Denmark.

Mr Jens Dalsgaard, the Secretary-General of the Danish National Commission to UNESCO, highlighted that Learning Cities are among the Danish Government’s 10 top priorities for cooperation with UNESCO. The seminar made the idea of the learning city more tangible for Danish city representatives.

Mr Arne Carlsen, Director of UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), shared “Possibilities and perspectives in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities” and illustrated the concept of a learning city. He explained that a learning city effectively mobilises its resources to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education, to re-vitalise learning in families and communities, facilitate learning for and in the workplace, extend the use of modern learning technologies, enhance quality and excellence in learning and to nurture a culture of learning throughout life. Furthermore, partners and representatives from municipalities shared their actions and insights about developing learning city projects in Denmark. The town of Herlev, for example, incorporated the learning city concept as an important element in its municipal strategy and has made a turnaround based on this approach. The seminar concluded with a lively discussion and a brainstorming session on developing learning cities/learning communities in Denmark and outlined the way forward for Denmark to enhance the learning city concept.