UNESCO Learning City Awardee 2024Glasgow, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
In Glasgow education is not just a phase of life, but a continuous journey embraced by all citizens. The city’s commitment to accessible, inclusive lifelong learning fosters personal and professional growth across all age groups.
From innovative programmes aimed at older adults to community initiatives focused on sustainability, Glasgow is spearheading the learning city concept. With a vibrant tapestry of cultural, social, and educational opportunities, the city encourages its residents to engage actively in their learning journeys, ensuring that learning is integrated into everyday life.
Glasgow's Learning City Development Plan entails comprehensive medium and long-term objectives relating to four policy dimensions: green and healthy, equitable and inclusive, economically prosperous, and culturally vibrant. The policy dimensions are aligned with the UNESCO Key Features of Learning Cities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
From innovative programmes aimed at older adults to community initiatives focused on sustainability, Glasgow is spearheading the learning city concept. With a vibrant tapestry of cultural, social, and educational opportunities, the city encourages its residents to engage actively in their learning journeys, ensuring that learning is integrated into everyday life.
Glasgow's Learning City Development Plan entails comprehensive medium and long-term objectives relating to four policy dimensions: green and healthy, equitable and inclusive, economically prosperous, and culturally vibrant. The policy dimensions are aligned with the UNESCO Key Features of Learning Cities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Jacqueline McLarenLord Provost of Glasgow
Empowering learners
Sally is one of the learners empowered by the UNESCO Learning City of Glasgow. Having missed out on math education during her school years, she is now enhancing her numeracy skills through a math course at the City Science Center. This course is helping her build essential skills like financial literacy, enabling her to handle basic everyday calculations and much more.
SallyLearner in the Everyday Maths course
Lifelong learning for health and well-being
Glasgow promotes the intersection of health and education through programmes that emphasize wellbeing. Initiatives like community health workshops and wellness seminars empower individuals to take charge of their health while learning about nutrition, exercise, and mental wellness. These programmes illustrate the city’s holistic approach to lifelong learning, recognizing that education extends beyond traditional subjects.
By prioritizing health education, Glasgow fosters a culture where individuals are informed and empowered to make choices that enhance their quality of life. The focus on wellbeing ensures that residents not only learn but thrive in a supportive environment.
By prioritizing health education, Glasgow fosters a culture where individuals are informed and empowered to make choices that enhance their quality of life. The focus on wellbeing ensures that residents not only learn but thrive in a supportive environment.
Learning in an ageing society
Glasgow continually adapts its learning offerings to address demographic shifts. Currently, over 38% of the city’s residents are aged 45 and older.
The Learn 50+ initiative, run by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde, is a standout programme designed specifically for individuals aged 50 and above.
By offering engaging courses that promote skill development and social interaction, this programme has successfully attracted nearly 3,000 participants in the past year. Activities range from digital skills training to creative arts workshops, ensuring that learners can pursue their interests while building a supportive community.
Participants graduate from the course with increased confidence and a renewed passion for learning, showcasing the transformative impact of lifelong education on their lives. This initiative not only enhances individual skills but also fosters intergenerational connections, enriching the community as a whole.
The Learn 50+ initiative, run by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Strathclyde, is a standout programme designed specifically for individuals aged 50 and above.
By offering engaging courses that promote skill development and social interaction, this programme has successfully attracted nearly 3,000 participants in the past year. Activities range from digital skills training to creative arts workshops, ensuring that learners can pursue their interests while building a supportive community.
Participants graduate from the course with increased confidence and a renewed passion for learning, showcasing the transformative impact of lifelong education on their lives. This initiative not only enhances individual skills but also fosters intergenerational connections, enriching the community as a whole.
Everyone has something to offerHelen, Centre for Lifelong Learning student
“Everyone has something to offer, regardless of age. Through the classes I have done at the Centre for Lifelong Learning I have been able to share my life experiences and it has definitely helped me to become more confident.”
Alix McDonaldHead of the Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Strathclyde
Climate action through learning
As part of Glasgow’s commitment to sustainability, the Thriving Cities Initiative (TCI) empowers citizens to engage in discussions around climate action and resilience.
By providing educational resources and workshops, TCI encourages communities to work together in creating sustainable solutions for their neighbourhoods, addressing pressing environmental challenges through collaboration and innovation.
By providing educational resources and workshops, TCI encourages communities to work together in creating sustainable solutions for their neighbourhoods, addressing pressing environmental challenges through collaboration and innovation.
Professor of Psychology and Adult LearningCatherine LidoUniversity of Glasgow
Driving a green economy through skills development
Glasgow is revitalizing its economy through its Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) and Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID), which are central to fostering inclusive economic growth. Led by the University of Strathclyde, GCID aims to create a fully renewable, climate-neutral area, while GRID’s Living Laboratory is generating new jobs and skill-building opportunities. Glasgow’s Learning City Development Plan targets economic prosperity by ensuring all citizens, regardless of background, have equal access to education, training, and employment.
International collaboration: Global partnerships
Glasgow actively engages with the international community as a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Through partnerships, the city shares its learning journey and gains insights from other member cities worldwide. Collaborative efforts include hosting webinars and participating in international conferences that focus on best practices and innovative approaches to education. These interactions not only enrich Glasgow's own initiatives but also contribute to a global dialogue on effective learning strategies.
By sharing knowledge and experiences, Glasgow helps to advance the global mission of promoting lifelong learning for sustainable development.
By sharing knowledge and experiences, Glasgow helps to advance the global mission of promoting lifelong learning for sustainable development.
Community engagement
Glasgow engages leaders and organisations from diverse sectors to ensure an inclusive and diverse approach. The city works with representatives from the City Council, Universities and Colleges and Civil Society Organisations to ensure lifelong learning and cultural opportunities are available to all citizens, particularly to those most vulnerable.
The development of Glasgow as a Learning City is an ongoing process where local actors contribute and share their visions towards a thriving city. These collaborations not only enhance learning but also strengthen community bonds, demonstrating the interconnectedness of education and social progress.
The development of Glasgow as a Learning City is an ongoing process where local actors contribute and share their visions towards a thriving city. These collaborations not only enhance learning but also strengthen community bonds, demonstrating the interconnectedness of education and social progress.
Looking ahead
Glasgow's vision for the future includes expanding existing programmes and creating new initiatives that address emerging learning needs.
By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, the city aims to enhance its role as a leading learning city, empowering residents to pursue their goals and contribute to a sustainable, inclusive community.
By fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, the city aims to enhance its role as a leading learning city, empowering residents to pursue their goals and contribute to a sustainable, inclusive community.
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Learning City Award was established to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities. It is conferred on cities that have achieved outstanding progress in this regard. All awardee cities have demonstrated best practices that lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The 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.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
© Glasgow City Council; Jaroslav Moravcik / Shutterstock.com; Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com; Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock.com; Chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com; PopTika / Shutterstock.com; Loch Earn / Shutterstock.com; Getty Images Pro / Stock Good
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
© Glasgow City Council; Jaroslav Moravcik / Shutterstock.com; Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com; Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock.com; Chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com; PopTika / Shutterstock.com; Loch Earn / Shutterstock.com; Getty Images Pro / Stock Good
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Glasgow, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
A collaborative approach
Jacqueline McLaren
Empowering learners
Sally
Lifelong learning for health and well-being
Learning in an ageing society
Everyone has something to offer
Alix McDonald
Climate action through learning
Catherine Lido
Driving a green economy through skills development
International collaboration: Global partnerships
Community engagement
Looking ahead
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities