UNESCO Learning CityCorinthGreece
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Global Network of Learning Cities, Corinth, located in Greece, shared some of its lifelong learning highlights from its three years as a Learning City.
Lessons on Lifelong Learning from Corinth
At the end of 2020, during the peak of pandemic, Corinth joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. It was during this period that a formal structure was built to activate the participation of Corinth as a Learning City.
The municipality has become more engaged both within the country, but also beyond the borders of Greece, creating new links with many cities from around the globe. Corinth has organized and co-organized (with other cities inside and outside Greece) events and visits.
The municipality has become more engaged both within the country, but also beyond the borders of Greece, creating new links with many cities from around the globe. Corinth has organized and co-organized (with other cities inside and outside Greece) events and visits.
Recognising its unique history
Through its engagement with the Global Network of Learning Cities, the municipality of Corinth is now better able to recognize its unique elements and is learning about the ways in which it can cultivate its history and collaborate with local organisations to educate and engage Corinthians.
Collaborating with diverse stakeholders
Through the support and inspiration of the GNLC, Corinth has been able to strengthen its the dialogue with lifelong learning stakeholders and is working towards collaborating with them to host conferences, festivals, and meetings.
For example, the city supports qualitative innovative lifelong learning activities for individuals and organizations of the city, particularly those with voluntary elements.
Corinth has also instituted collaborations which support the learning city, notably amongst these with university professors and have recently signed several memorandums of understanding with universities.
For example, the city supports qualitative innovative lifelong learning activities for individuals and organizations of the city, particularly those with voluntary elements.
Corinth has also instituted collaborations which support the learning city, notably amongst these with university professors and have recently signed several memorandums of understanding with universities.
Inclusive learningGaryfalia Christopoulou, Director of the Municipality of Corinth
"Lifelong learning contributes to the achievement of balance between work and personal development. Instead of focusing on impossible goals, I aim for those that fit my work life and lifestyle! My attempt is enough for me to get results by learning but it is not such a hard attempt that I need to give up… before it gets interesting."
Lifelong learning in CorinthEuroproodos
Europroodos is a private VET institution in Corinth. Following an invitation from Corinth Learning City, we have participated in a number of events they have organised in our city.
Before the existence of Corinth Learning City, our educational institution remained isolated from the activities of the city, focusing mainly on its primary purpose, providing vocational education to post school students.
The events Corinth Learning City has organised during the past 3 years have helped us come into contact with other, often seemingly unrelated, institutions of the city. In this manner, we have obtained a new perspective of our role in the city and we have incorporated many of the goals of Corinth Learning City into our own objectives.
One of these is the interaction of our institution and its students with other formal and informal associations in our city, for example the local Open Care Center for the elderly. At the beginning of the new semester we organised an internal “brainstorming” session with all our students to find ideas for enriching this interaction.
Before the existence of Corinth Learning City, our educational institution remained isolated from the activities of the city, focusing mainly on its primary purpose, providing vocational education to post school students.
The events Corinth Learning City has organised during the past 3 years have helped us come into contact with other, often seemingly unrelated, institutions of the city. In this manner, we have obtained a new perspective of our role in the city and we have incorporated many of the goals of Corinth Learning City into our own objectives.
One of these is the interaction of our institution and its students with other formal and informal associations in our city, for example the local Open Care Center for the elderly. At the beginning of the new semester we organised an internal “brainstorming” session with all our students to find ideas for enriching this interaction.
Testimonials of lifelong learning in CorinthAnastasia Gioka, Corinth resident
"Through lifelong learning, we hope to make the city where we were born and live, Corinth, a city which learns, embraces its citizens, unites them and makes their lives more human, and warmer.
That is why we brought the social support agencies of our city closer to the citizens, in order to get to know them, but also for the agencies to get to know and cooperate with each other.
We promoted collaborations between school units and social support and solidarity agencies concerned with vulnerable social groups.
The participation of citizens and the interaction with the representatives of the institutions, together with the requests and questions to the heads of the institutions and the Municipality, demonstrated the interest of the citizens for active action and the need for cooperation between social institutions."
That is why we brought the social support agencies of our city closer to the citizens, in order to get to know them, but also for the agencies to get to know and cooperate with each other.
We promoted collaborations between school units and social support and solidarity agencies concerned with vulnerable social groups.
The participation of citizens and the interaction with the representatives of the institutions, together with the requests and questions to the heads of the institutions and the Municipality, demonstrated the interest of the citizens for active action and the need for cooperation between social institutions."
Testimonials of lifelong learning in CorinthStefani, Corinth resident
"Being part of UNESCO Learning Cities has reinforced our efforts of encouraging members of our community to acquire knowledge about their cultural heritage and local identity and to embrace a common vision of cultural, educational and economic growth.
It has enhanced our mission to promote the community’s Stephanion Observatory as a home for public astronomy, science literacy and education for the pursuit of lifelong learning for everyone, with the aim to empower individuals, especially younger generations, to face future challenges in a rapidly changing global environment, thereby laying the foundation for rural regeneration and sustainable development."
It has enhanced our mission to promote the community’s Stephanion Observatory as a home for public astronomy, science literacy and education for the pursuit of lifelong learning for everyone, with the aim to empower individuals, especially younger generations, to face future challenges in a rapidly changing global environment, thereby laying the foundation for rural regeneration and sustainable development."
Thank you!
Corinth's participation in the GNLC is a valuable asset in many ways for promoting lifelong learning in our city, at a practical, policy-making, and theoretical level.
Many thanks to the Coordination Team of Global Network of Learning Cities and to the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning for their support!
Many thanks to the Coordination Team of Global Network of Learning Cities and to the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning for their support!
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
Image Credits: saiko3p / Shutterstock.com; Aerial-motion / Shutterstock.com; City of Corinth; Gurgen Bakhshetyan / Shutterstock.com
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: saiko3p / Shutterstock.com; Aerial-motion / Shutterstock.com; City of Corinth; Gurgen Bakhshetyan / Shutterstock.com
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Corinth
Lessons on Lifelong Learning from Corinth
Recognising its unique history
Collaborating with diverse stakeholders
Inclusive learning
Lifelong learning in Corinth
Testimonials of lifelong learning in Corinth
Testimonials of lifelong learning in Corinth
Thank you!
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities