UNESCO learning city of BelfastUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Putting people at the heart of learning – that is the essence of the UNESCO Learning City of Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city. It is strongly dedicated to integrating lifelong learning across government, policies, and strategies.
In Belfast, learning is cherished in all its forms and championed as a catalyst for personal, social, civic, and economic transformation.
In Belfast, learning is cherished in all its forms and championed as a catalyst for personal, social, civic, and economic transformation.
Improving the quality of life for all
Learning for people of all ages is deeply embedded in the Belfast Agenda. It reflects the evolving priorities of community planning partners and the public.
Developed collaboratively with city partners, residents, and community organisations, the Belfast Agenda outlines a shared vision and long-term goals for Belfast’s future, alongside immediate priorities for action over the next four years.
Its collaborative approach fosters innovation and creativity in delivering public services, addressing vital concerns such as health, education and lifelong learning, employment, and the environment, while striving to improve the quality of life for everyone in Belfast.
Developed collaboratively with city partners, residents, and community organisations, the Belfast Agenda outlines a shared vision and long-term goals for Belfast’s future, alongside immediate priorities for action over the next four years.
Its collaborative approach fosters innovation and creativity in delivering public services, addressing vital concerns such as health, education and lifelong learning, employment, and the environment, while striving to improve the quality of life for everyone in Belfast.
Creating employment routes for all
Belfast’s community plan contains goals to sustain and create new employment routes.
Working across the community planning partnership, Belfast has initiatives in place to support learning and make the best use out of the city’s assets and resources to achieve outcomes.
Working across the community planning partnership, Belfast has initiatives in place to support learning and make the best use out of the city’s assets and resources to achieve outcomes.
Michael KaneProfessional & business services sector leader at Belfast City Council
Employment Academies
The Belfast employment academies offer customised training to support individuals in finding jobs while assisting businesses with recruitment needs.
These academies are short to medium-term, intensive programmes designed for groups of people with shared interests.
These academies are short to medium-term, intensive programmes designed for groups of people with shared interests.
Michael KaneProfessional & business services sector leader at Belfast City Council
Fastrack into Information Technology
Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) Ltd is the appointed training organisation for Belfast City Council’s Technology Employment Academy.
FIT Ltd is an organization representing Ireland’s technology sector, dedicated to expanding the country’s tech talent pool.
Its mission is to ensure access to in-demand tech skills, driving quality employment while promoting inclusion and leveraging technology to create opportunities for everyone.
FIT Ltd is an organization representing Ireland’s technology sector, dedicated to expanding the country’s tech talent pool.
Its mission is to ensure access to in-demand tech skills, driving quality employment while promoting inclusion and leveraging technology to create opportunities for everyone.
Katie SlevinFIT programme manager
Transforming lives
Through hands-on training and personalized support, participants develop the skills and confidence needed to enter the tech sector.
Eoghan McLaughlin, one of the Technology Employment Academy participants, joined the programme without any formal qualifications in technology and has already made great strides during the first few weeks.
Eoghan McLaughlin, one of the Technology Employment Academy participants, joined the programme without any formal qualifications in technology and has already made great strides during the first few weeks.
Eoghan McLaughlinLearner at the FIT employment academy
Dedicated educators
Eoghan’s learning experiences highlight the impact of the Belfast Technology Employment Academy in creating accessible pathways into the tech sector. But behind every successful learner is a dedicated educator.
The programme’s instructors play a crucial role in guiding diverse learners, fostering both technical expertise and essential soft skills.
Tutor Joe makes a lasting impact on his students while rising to the challenge of teaching a highly diverse group.
The programme’s instructors play a crucial role in guiding diverse learners, fostering both technical expertise and essential soft skills.
Tutor Joe makes a lasting impact on his students while rising to the challenge of teaching a highly diverse group.
JoeTutor
Joe does much more than teach technology skills—he instils a passion for problem-solving in his learners.
Dean is one of them, having joined the Academy without any formal tech skills.
Dean is one of them, having joined the Academy without any formal tech skills.
DeanLearner
Building a brighter future through lifelong learning
The Belfast Employment Academies, like this one, empower learners through upskilling, enabling them to build better lives while contributing to social and economic development. They are just one impressive pillar of the UNESCO Learning City's initiatives.
Belfast exemplifies how a UNESCO Learning City can transform vision into action. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and inclusion, Belfast is addressing challenges and creating opportunities through lifelong learning.
Belfast exemplifies how a UNESCO Learning City can transform vision into action. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and inclusion, Belfast is addressing challenges and creating opportunities through lifelong learning.
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
Credits: © Shutterstock.com / Ballygally View Images; Shutterstock.com / Cynthia Shirk; Shutterstock.com / Ivan maguire; Shutterstock.com / Monkey Business Images; Shutterstock.com / Pressmaster; Shutterstock.com / Maria Albi; UIL
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Shutterstock.com / Ballygally View Images; Shutterstock.com / Cynthia Shirk; Shutterstock.com / Ivan maguire; Shutterstock.com / Monkey Business Images; Shutterstock.com / Pressmaster; Shutterstock.com / Maria Albi; UIL
Scroll down to continue
Swipe to continue
Swipe to continue
UNESCO learning city of Belfast
Improving the quality of life for all
Creating employment routes for all
Michael Kane
Employment Academies
Michael Kane
Fastrack into Information Technology
Katie Slevin
Transforming lives
Eoghan McLaughlin
Dedicated educators
Joe
Dean
Building a brighter future through lifelong learning
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities