City of Wolverhampton has been nominated for a UNESCO Learning City Award by the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

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It follows the assessment of the Wolverhampton City Learning Region Award application, signed by Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Page.

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is expected to announce the results on behalf of the award selection jury in January 2019.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, which aims to support and accelerate lifelong learning, makes an important contribution towards achieving sustainable development goals.

It consists of around 200 cities in 40 countries which are united in their determination to promote lifelong learning and, through it, sustainable development in their cities.

City of Wolverhampton and Bristol are currently the only two cities in England that are members of the prestigious UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

The University of Wolverhampton and City of Wolverhampton Council last year launched the City of Wolverhampton Learning Region Initiative along with key partners and organisations linked to economic and social development, including Wolverhampton Learning Platform, City of Wolverhampton College, Local Enterprise Partnerships, employers, schools and colleges.

The diverse range of stakeholders came together at the launch hosted by the university to learn about the learning city concept and determine how it can best work for people in the city and surrounding areas. 

Three key cross cutting priorities were agreed that require action, in terms of realising aspirations, developing a skilled workforce, and engaging adults in learning to improve health and wellbeing.  In addition, increasing understanding of the vital role that learning plays in economic and social development is at the forefront.

One activity in the pipeline is to host a festival of learning during the city's Residents' Programme in March 2019.

Professor Jackie Dunne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Access and Lifelong Learning) at the University, said: "We are delighted to receive this nomination. It recognises the collaborative hard work of partners within the City of Wolverhampton and celebrates the achievements of all our learners, who are contributing to a better future for the region.

"We will continue to develop opportunities and promote lifelong learning for all to support social and economic transformation within the region."

Councillor Lynne Moran, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, added: "It is vital we improve the city's learning, apprenticeship and employment offers to young people and adults in the City of Wolverhampton.

"To be nominated for a UNESCO Learning City Award recognises the strong partnership working going on in our city and the determination we are showing to raise aspirations, develop a skilled workforce and engage adults in learning to improve health and wellbeing.

"Plans are in place for a City Learning Quarter that will help allow education and skills providers to flourish and grow together.

"Achieving Learning City Award status will help put our city offer on a global stage and enable us to gain better access to the best-practice knowledge of cities who already hold this title."

Caption (l-r): Front row - Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Page, and Councillor Lynne Moran, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills holding the official UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities membership certificate; Back row - Josie Kelly, Access to Business CEO, Mal Cowgill, City of Wolverhampton College Principal, Professor Jackie Dunne, University of Wolverhampton Deputy Vice Chancellor (Access and Lifelong Learning), Anna Place, Jobchange Senior Business Services Manager

  • released: Tuesday 27 November, 2018