This brainstorm in the CR&DALL seminar series at the University of Glasgow was held in collaboration with the Adam Smith Research Foundation on 26 March 2013.  Peter Kearns led the session with Dr Roberta Piazza and Professor Norman Longworth as respondents.

Peter outlined the background to the EcCoWell development in PASCAL and commented on the cross-sectoral nature of the concept.  He indicated that the EcCoWell paper could be read on the PIE website.  Important themes in discussion included:

• The importance of culture in international comparisons
• The significance of process in the development of learning cities, a factor to be taken into consideration in monitoring and evaluation
• The key role of public spaces in cities
• The value of the PALLACE project as a role model in the consideration of possible future directions for PIE.

There was some discussion on whether public spaces were being lost in cities and commodified.  Interest was shown in the work of the Project for Public Spaces in New York which Peter indicated he was visiting in April.  The subject of the PASCAL Hong Kong conference was discussed in relation to how people learn from each other.  A key question raised was whether learning city development was best planned or should be seen as an organic process.  Examples were given of both approaches.

Reference was made to the Scottish Cities Agenda 2011 which is designed to promote the strategic development of Scottish cities including addressing disadvantage.  In addition, it was acknowledged that the Program for the Assessment of Adult Competencies (OECD) should link to work already done on learning.

Overall, it was evident that the EcCoWell approach provided many opportunities for cross-sectoral research.  However, the research role in the context of the major changes occurring in cities requires further clarification and should be taken up in subsequent discussions in PIE 2013 events.