The Israeli Center for Learning Cities, in Modiin, has recently signed an agreement, the first of it's kind, with the FVG Region of Italy, during a visit to Israel under the title "Pilot Project Learning Cities" [featured below].

This agreement is the result of a mutual learning process between the Israeli Center for Learning Cities, in Modiin, and the Parliament of the FVG Region, together with the Universita delle LieberEta, Udine and the City of Trieste.

Signing of the Agreement, in the Municipality of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut

We have a long-lasting collaboration and friendship with Universita delle LieberEta, directed by Ms. Pina Raso. Our mutual learning and sharing process began from participating in a mutual project relating to soft skills and has only developed and grown since. The collaboration with Pina, led us to connect to the city of Trieste and our friends in the FVG Region.

We have a very successful and growing friendship and cooperation with the FVG Parliament, whom we work in close collaboration with, especially with the Office of the Regional Minister of Labour, Ms. Alessia Rosolen, and her Vice Director, Ms. Ketty Segatti, who deal with Training, Education, University, Research and Family. They are very committed to promoting the Learning City concept and enhancing social resilience in their sustainable community development. We have developed a mutual project relating to employability and soft skills as a collaborative pilot in order to encourage personal growth in both our local communities.

This agreement with the FVG Region acknowledges the importance of assimilating Life Long Learning and implementing the Learning City concept locally.

The aim of the agreement

It is in the interest of all Parties to spread the Learning City model in their reference territories, capitalizing on the good experiences of adult education centers operating in the non-formal field, such as the Modi'in Multidisciplinary Center for Learning Cities in Modiin, Israel and the Universita delle LieberEta for LLL of Udine.

This objective can be achieved thanks to the "Pilot Project Learning Cities" which, thanks to the collaboration with Israeli Partners, intends to experiment with the model of learning cities in the territorial realities of the Italian and Banja Luka Partners. The Pilot Project pays particular attention to interventions aimed at "revitalizing learning in families and communities".

The signing took place in the presence of the President of the FVG parliament as well as Israeli Foreign Ministry representation, and was signed by the following seniors:

• Regional Minister of Labour, Training, Education, University, Research, and Family. FVG Region, Ms. Alessia Rosolen;
• Councilor for Economic Activities and ESOF2020, Trieste Municipality, Ms. Serena Tonel;
• President of the International Adult Education Centre Universita delle LiberEta, Udine, Ms. Pina Raso;
• Mayor of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut and Chair of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, Mr. Haim Bibas;
• Director of the Multi-Disciplinary Center and Establisher of the Israeli Center for Learning Cities in Israel, Dr. Orna Mager.

This collaboration was joined by the Mayor of Banja Luka, Mr. Igor Radojicic, in order to promote mutual Learning together with the Republic of Srpska.

The collaboration focal points relate to:

• Implementation of Life Long Learning as a culture in the community. While the citizen is the main, active, actor.
• Enhancing positive interaction by sharing best practices in order to create transformative learning and experiences.
• Development of Transversal skills, to develop a knowledge-based society.
• Strengthening the family unit and promoting social resilience
• Employability in the changing working environment, and development of soft skills.
• Promotion of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

During a visit to Trieste in December, the Israeli delegation had the opportunity to visit various learning spaces and meet with Municipal and Regional officials, who are promoting the Learning City Pilot Project, through various institutes.

Meeting at Trieste Municipality

At a local annual FSE conference, we were honored by the virtual participation of UIL UNESCO representatives. In the framework of this conference, significant topics were raised, relating to Digitization in the current era and anticipated future trends, Transformative Learning and re-adjustment of our approaches towards the Learning concept, and more.

 At Federation of Local Authorities

In the hope to continue successfully leading sustainable Learning communities to face the complexities and future developing trends,

Orna

Some photos of the events described above (click to enlarge):