UNESCO learning cities' responses to COVID-19
When the COVID-19 global pandemic hit in 2020, governments around the world temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. But how did learning continue for young and old during this time?
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) called on its network of 229 UNESCO learning cities to provide insights into their particular handling of the situation. During a UIL webinar series in 2020, they jointly developed strategies and exchanged information about good practices to ensure that learning did not stop.
In our new publication Snapshots of learning cities’ responses to COVID-19, we showcase local responses to COVID-19. The UNESCO learning city of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, provided one of them.
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) called on its network of 229 UNESCO learning cities to provide insights into their particular handling of the situation. During a UIL webinar series in 2020, they jointly developed strategies and exchanged information about good practices to ensure that learning did not stop.
In our new publication Snapshots of learning cities’ responses to COVID-19, we showcase local responses to COVID-19. The UNESCO learning city of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, provided one of them.
Wuhan, People's Republic of China
The focus of Wuhan’s pandemic strategy is to support the community’s return to work and education following COVID-19, inform citizens about pandemic prevention measures being taken, and promote mental well-being and offer counselling to those who need it.
Targeting all citizens
The initiative targets all citizens of Wuhan and promotes lifelong learning for all. Promoting personal hygiene and a scientific approach to navigating COVID-19 is also a main goal of the initiative.
Longer term, Wuhan hopes to foster good mental and emotional health and help citizens cope with the changes they experience in all areas of life because of the pandemic.
Longer term, Wuhan hopes to foster good mental and emotional health and help citizens cope with the changes they experience in all areas of life because of the pandemic.
Support for schools
Various stakeholders were involved in advancing the strategy. The Wuhan Education Bureau, for example, issued several sets of guidelines to support schools, teachers and students in learning about preventive measures and looking after their mental health.
Zhou JiaResearcher at the Wuhan Academy of Educational Sciences
Organized courses
The bureau, together with the Wuhan Academy of Educational Science, organized a series of courses on health and hygiene targeted at children of frontline workers, students from families with financial difficulties, children in rural areas, and youth groups with sick or isolated relatives.
Services for the public
The Wuhan Community Education College set up an open course on pandemic prevention and control to inform citizens and, through an exhibition entitled ‘Design during epidemic by the Wuhan Urban and Rural Construction Bureau’, showed residents how the city was dealing with the pandemic.
In addition, the city libraries offered free art courses and community educators worked with key community actors to undertake localized recovery activities.
In addition, the city libraries offered free art courses and community educators worked with key community actors to undertake localized recovery activities.
Dan ChenLecturer at the Wuhan Vocational College of Software and Engineering
Challenges: access to technology
The number of citizens requesting online psychological counselling was significant but understandable considering the city-wide lockdown that lasted for months. However, support networks were unstable,
and not all vulnerable groups could access online mental-health counselling because of poor or no access to technology.
Accessing education on mental health was also particularly challenging, as the availability of specific learning materials was limited.
Accessing education on mental health was also particularly challenging, as the availability of specific learning materials was limited.
Learn more!
Find more cases in our publication Snapshots of learning cities’ responses to COVID-19
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
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Photos courtesy of © City of Wuhan, People's Republic of China
Become a member!
Photos courtesy of © City of Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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UNESCO learning cities' responses to COVID-19
Wuhan, People's Republic of China
Targeting all citizens
Support for schools
Zhou Jia
Organized courses
Services for the public
Dan Chen
Challenges: access to technology
Learn more!
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities