We are pleased to share the second issue of our newsletter for 2016. This has been an exciting quarter of the year for the expansion of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). We have not only had the pleasure to welcome almost 50 members from 22 countries to the Network, we have also opened the UNESCO Learning City Award 2017 for applications and are now cordially inviting UNESCO GNLC members to apply.

In this newsletter, we also share the link to the Report on the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities and are pleased to announce that Cork in Ireland has been selected to host the 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC) in 2017. In addition, we present several promising initiatives from selected members who have been active in advancing the learning city approach and established cooperative projects.

We hope you will gain valuable insights from this issue of the UNESCO GNLC newsletter. We particularly invite you to learn more about the three key ideas of the UNESCO Learning City Awardees 2015, which are presented in a series of twelve video interviews in this issue’s Focus.
 

Lea la edición en español Lire la édition en français In Focus UNESCO Learning City Awardees 2015 have shared insights into building learning cities in a series of twelve video interviews entitled ‘12 Cities – 12 Perspectives’. Read more From the GNLC Team The UNESCO Learning City Award 2017 is now open for applications. Cities must send the application to their country’s National Commission for UNESCO by 31 August 2016. Read more 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities to take place in Cork City, Ireland. Cork City has long demonstrated tremendous commitment to the learning city approach in general and to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in particular. Read more UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities: Key contributor to the 13th Pascal International Conference. Its main theme was the development of learning cities and the cross-cutting role they play in initiatives such as Smart Cities, Healthy Cities and Resilient Cities, which promote holistic approaches to urban development. Read more Cities in Action Developing learning cities in China: Legal frameworks, learning technologies and evaluation. Three major events on developing learning cities in China took place in April 2016. These events, which were held in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai respectively, focused on identifying future directions for learning cities. Read more Developing learning cities in Nordic Countries. Discussions on the contextualization and implementation of the Key Features of Learning Cities in Nordic Countries took place today at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in Hamburg. Read more UNESCO Learning City Award 2017 open for Applications Welcoming new members Argentina - Villa María Brazil - Jaboatão dos Guararapes Bulgaria - Plovdiv Costa Rica - San José Denmark - Sønderborg Egypt - Giza Greece - Lesbos Greece – Trikala Greece - Volos Italy - Turin Lithuania – Kaunas Portugal – Câmara de Lobos Portugal – Cascais Portugal – Mação Republic of Korea - Bucheon Republic of Korea - Gunpo Republic of Korea - Jeonju Republic of Korea - Osan Republic of Korea - Suwon Republic of Korea  - Uijeongbu Republic of Korea - Tongyeong Ukraine  - Melitopol How to become a member? Publications Report on the 2nd International Conference on Learning Cities. The Report details the proceedings and outcomes of the 2nd ICLC, which brought together over 650 participants from 95 countries to define the role of learning cities in shaping the Sustainable Development Agenda. Youth Driving Community Education: Testimonies of Empowerment from Latin America. As learners, educators and community leaders, these young people initiate and actively participate in improving their own and other people’s lives in their communities.