With the majority of the world’s population now living in urban areas, cities play an important role in ensuring the right to education and lifelong learning for all. They help promote lifelong learning by linking education, training and cultural institutions. Engage diverse stakeholders such as government, civil society, and business. and to create an environment where citizens can take their personal learning journeys and apply that learning to their daily lives.
In Southeast Asia, rapid urbanization and socio-economic transformation have created an urgent need for lifelong learning to equip citizens to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. These challenges range from climate change to rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI). As a result, there is growing momentum for cities to lead efforts to address inequalities and expand access to lifelong learning. This is evidenced by the addition of 11 Southeast Asian cities to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in February 2024. Seven of these cities in China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are scheduled to be certified in February 2024. A special awards ceremony was held at the opening plenary session of the conference.
