UNESCO Learning CityBrest, France
Brest, located in northwestern France, was inducted into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022.
A young and densely populated city
A densely populated city characterized by post-World War II architecture, 41 per cent of Brest’s inhabitants are under 30 years of age. In 2020, the city was home to more than 30 000 students.
Brest embraces its Breton culture and focuses on new technologies, particularly in the maritime sector.
Brest embraces its Breton culture and focuses on new technologies, particularly in the maritime sector.
Brest’s learning vision
For more than 20 years, the city of Brest has been implementing an educational policy that is in line with several components of the Global Network of Learning Cities.
It adopts an integrated approach to learning, and its educational project caters for learners aged 0 to 30, covering early childhood, childhood and youth.
The city believes that learning should match inhabitants’ needs and interests as closely as possible, and that education should be open to others and to the world, with a major focus on culture.
It adopts an integrated approach to learning, and its educational project caters for learners aged 0 to 30, covering early childhood, childhood and youth.
The city believes that learning should match inhabitants’ needs and interests as closely as possible, and that education should be open to others and to the world, with a major focus on culture.
Mr. François CuillandreMayor of Brest
"For more than twenty years now, we have been working on a daily basis with the educational actors of the territory to build the conditions for the fulfilment of our fellow citizens. As you know, this fulfilment is a condition for their success in learning and their emancipation. Through this work, we are creating the soil that will allow each and every one of them to exercise their citizenship in a responsible manner. This commitment is made close to the inhabitants, in the 69 public schools, the 23 popular education facilities and the social centres spread throughout the city's neighbourhoods. Around these structures, we have been able to unite energies. The actors of education, but also those of sport, culture and science work to nourish the curiosity of the inhabitants and bring them to open up to others and to the world."
Strategies for sustainability and health
Young people can take part in educational projects combining knowledge, eco-citizenship and protection of the local environment. These actions reinforce Brest's link to the sea and the preservation of the oceans.
In addition, the city is rethinking the role of children and young people in the public space by integrating this concern into urban planning, urban renewal projects and the development of green spaces in the city.
In addition, the city is rethinking the role of children and young people in the public space by integrating this concern into urban planning, urban renewal projects and the development of green spaces in the city.
Promoting equity and inclusion
Accessibility to learning is a key aspect of the city's policies. A dense network of public schools allows 60 per cent of pupils to travel less than 500 metres to school. Moreover, 23 popular education facilities are distributed throughout the seven districts of the territory.
The city also implements policies for the inclusion of children with disabilities and programmes to decrease school dropout rates.
The city also implements policies for the inclusion of children with disabilities and programmes to decrease school dropout rates.
Mr. François CuillandreMayor of Brest
“We have developed a programme that aims to create actions adapted to different situations. For example, accompanying families and their children, working to bring young people closer to training or social support systems, preventing dropouts, and including people with disabilities are all examples of actions carried out - hand in hand with professionals - in these different fields. All energies and skills are mobilized in a coherent manner to promote learning for all. We have a great responsibility to create the conditions that will allow each and every one of us to understand the major issues facing the world and to act responsibly."
Brest’s good practicesStrengthening access to online learning
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families had difficulty accessing computers, which hindered children’s participation in online classes. In response, the City, the Departmental Council and the National Education Department distributed computers and internet-enabled devices to more than 100 families identified by field workers.
Brest's good practicesExploring the joys of playing an instrument
The Demos project is based on a partnership between the Paris Philharmonic, the State and the City of Brest that taught almost 100 children from four different schools to play an instrument regularly over a period of two years.
This is the second Demos project and the city continues to support beneficiaries of the first project, providing additional resources to a school in the most disadvantaged area of Brest.
This is the second Demos project and the city continues to support beneficiaries of the first project, providing additional resources to a school in the most disadvantaged area of Brest.
Brest’s good practicesTour de France Inspires Sports Education Projects
In 2021, Brest hosted the start of the Tour de France, using the occasion to mobilize children and early childhood actors to work on educational projects related to cycling, including learning to ride a bike; interviews and reports; research on Paralympic sports and inspiring female cyclists; and much more.
Fostering partnerships to support lifelong learning
Having joined the Global Network of Learning Cities, Brest will continue to place education and lifelong learning at the heart of its project.
Moreover, it will work together with other learning cities, around the world, to further develop its learning strategies.
Moreover, it will work together with other learning cities, around the world, to further develop its learning strategies.
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: City of Brest; Pecold/Shutterstock.com; Elena Chevalier/Shutterstock.com; EZ-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: City of Brest; Pecold/Shutterstock.com; Elena Chevalier/Shutterstock.com; EZ-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com
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Brest, France
A young and densely populated city
Brest’s learning vision
Mr. François Cuillandre
Strategies for sustainability and health
Promoting equity and inclusion
Mr. François Cuillandre
Strengthening access to online learning
Exploring the joys of playing an instrument
Tour de France Inspires Sports Education Projects
Fostering partnerships to support lifelong learning
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities