Decades-old environmental and resource challenges now combine with persisting global financial and economic crisis to make ‘the end of growth’ a new and fearful nightmare – acknowledged by some, denied by others. How to build futures for all that are economically viable, socially cohesive, culturally inclusive and environmentally constructive?

Cities have become the primary site in which these challenges and the associated debates are being played out. In the emergent and powerful economies of East Asia, city leaders seek solutions via new ‘learning city’ approaches; meanwhile, in the western economies, their leaders are looking beyond stalled previous learning city initiatives yet recognising the importance of knowledge and capability in building balanced economy, society and environment.

This first PASCAL Conference to be held in Asia draws on the PASCAL International Exchanges Project, PIE to examine the direction, capacity and governance of cities. It is planned in partnership with the host Hong Kong Institute of Education and RMIT’s European Union Centre, with regional bodies such as ACUPEN, ASPBAE and EAFEA. Other partners include the Hong Kong UNEVOC Centre.

The Conference will focus on present and future action, mainly within neighbourhood communities and in cities. Exploring how good practice can be adopted and adapted between different regions, cultures and traditions represents a crucial opportunity. This will be tested by the Conference and its aftermath.

The meeting is planned to connect with the work of UNESCO and the UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning, UIL which with China will launch the Global Learning Cities Network (GLCN) in Beijing late in 2013.

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