On 3 June 2013, UIL co-hosted the Lifelong Learning Planet Forum in Suwon, Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the National Institute for Lifelong Education (NILE) and the Gyeonggi Do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning (GILL). Two hundred participants discussed how to enhance international cooperation in developing sustainable learning cities. UIL Director Arne Carlsen highlighted the role of learning cities in tackling urban development challenges. He also commended the achievement of the Republic of Korea in designating 90 Lifelong Learning Cities in recent years in his opening remarks to the Forum. On 10 June 2013, the Expert Symposium for Sustainable Lifelong Learning Cities in Asia and the Pacific was held in Changwon, organised by the City of Changwon, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO Bangkok Office. Its theme was ‘Lifelong Learning for Unemployed Youth in Cities’. Experts from international organisations, including UIL, the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations University, and Member States from the region including Australia, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, discussed the key role of lifelong learning in the creation of employment opportunities in cities. Gwang-Jo Kim, Director of UNESCO Bangkok, introduced the IPLC as a remarkable approach to building sustainable learning cities in the international community at the Symposium. Ms Sunok Jo gave a presentation on the preparation for establishing the IPLC and the draft Key Features of Learning Cities on behalf of the UIL Task Force on Learning Cities.
