Wolverhampton celebrates successful learning city at UNESCO conference

Wolverhampton is celebrating its status as a successful learning city at UNESCO’s fifth International Conference of Learning Cities. 

The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Greg Brackenridge, has been invited by the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, David Atchoarena, to represent Wolverhampton by speaking at the Plenary Session II - Resilient cities: Strengthening communities and local learning systems.  

The Mayor will profile Wolverhampton internationally and showcase the city’s strengths as a successful learning city. 

Wolverhampton has been a member City of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) since 2018 and is one of only two cities in England to be a part of the network.  It is building a learning city through the Wolverhampton City Learning Region initiative.   

The Republic of Korea is hosting the conference which is taking place from 27 to 29 October 2021.  The event welcomes education experts and representatives of the 229 members of the UNESCO GNLC to deliberate on the conference theme ‘Global health education and emergency response’.  

The conference is an opportunity to explore how learning cities can promote health education and contribute to emergency responses, such as those established during the Covid-19 pandemic. With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities have a front-line role in responding to health crises.  

In addition, the conference is a chance to take stock of the progress being made in connection with the UNESCO Global Network's of Learning Cities strategy for 2019–2021, and will provide a platform for the approximately 700 participants to share examples of best practice and lessons learned. 

The GNLC, coordinated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, aims to support and accelerate lifelong learning with 229 active member cities from 55 countries which are united in their determination to promote lifelong learning and, through it, sustainable development in their cities. 

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. Further information:http://https://uil.unesco.org/lifelong-learning/learning-cities 

The Mayor of Wolverhampton said: “I am delighted to represent Wolverhampton at this high profile conference, giving us the opportunity to showcase the innovative and impactful lifelong learning practices and strong partnership working going on in our city.  

“Lifelong learning and education are embedded at the heart of our city’s transformation through the city’s Strategic Economic Plan and Wolverhampton City Learning Region. The strength of the city’s partnership approach to tackling challenges has enabled an immediate collaborative response to the pandemic to mobilise resources and develop the city’s ‘Relighting Our City’ recovery plan with input from over 2,500 residents and stakeholders to identify needs.   

“Wolverhampton’s ‘Relighting Our City’ plan has learning at its heart and is underpinned by key principles around climate change and sustainability, embracing 5G technologies, championing digital inclusion and tackling inequalities.  Ensuring continuation of learning and creating new learning opportunities throughout the pandemic is a strength of the city in addition to ongoing investment in the city’s learning systems which underpins our resilience.”   

The University of Wolverhampton and City of Wolverhampton Council launched the City of Wolverhampton Learning Region Initiative in 2017 along with key partners and organisations linked to economic and social development, including City of Wolverhampton College, Adult Education Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Learning Platform, Wolverhampton Learning Communities Partnership, Voluntary and Community Sector, Local Enterprise Partnerships, employers, schools and colleges.   

Partners are working closely together to increase access to lifelong learning across the city to support residents to realise their potential and aspirations, develop a skilled workforce and engage adults in learning to improve health and wellbeing.  

The diverse range of stakeholders came together at a launch hosted by the University to learn about the UNESCO learning city concept and determine how it can best work for people in the city and surrounding areas.  Wolverhampton has since become a globally connected learning city through engagement with the UNESCO GNLC network of cities from around the world, sharing best practice and inspirations.   

Wolverhampton was recently nominated to be considered out of 229 member cities for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Learning City Award 2021 by the UK National Commission for UNESCO.  Whilst unsuccessful in the final round, recognition for the work completed to date was an amazing achievement. 

Anyone can participate in the conference for FREE from the conference webpage https://learningcities2021.org/join 

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days. 

ENDS