UNESCO Learning CityGuangzhouPeople's Republic of China
Guangzhou, People's Republic of China was inducted into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022.
A fast changing city
For two consecutive years, Forbes has rated Guangzhou as China’s second most changed city. It hosts the China Import and Export Commodities Fair and is home to over 8,700 national high-tech enterprises.
With a history stretching back more than 2,000 years, Guangzhou also boasts a thriving cultural scene, which is characterized by Cantonese cuisine, music and language.
With a history stretching back more than 2,000 years, Guangzhou also boasts a thriving cultural scene, which is characterized by Cantonese cuisine, music and language.
Mr. Jiang ZhitaoDeputy Mayor of Guangzhou
"As a famous city with a rich culture and a history of more than 2,000 years, Guangzhou is the center of the Lingnan culture in China. A rich cultural heritage nourishes our learning city, and a tradition of respecting literature and education guides us to support lifelong learning for all. Guangzhou is also a starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and a leader in China's all-round opening-up. The openness and inclusiveness of our city bring us to the learning cities network for exchanges, to learn from pioneers, and to advance with our peers."
Lifelong learning - the foundation of resilience and sustainability
Lifelong learning helps the city to construct a learning city that is resilient and sustainable. Engaging with the Global Network of Learning Cities and learning from other cities allows Guangzhou to achieve this.
The city's medium-term strategy centres on establishing a new system of education in that is fair, dynamic, innovative and inclusive. Its long-term strategy is based on building a participatory international city that will serve a hub for international educational exchange. Priority areas are vocational and family education.
The city's medium-term strategy centres on establishing a new system of education in that is fair, dynamic, innovative and inclusive. Its long-term strategy is based on building a participatory international city that will serve a hub for international educational exchange. Priority areas are vocational and family education.
Mr. Jiang ZhitaoDeputy Mayor of Guangzhou
"Over the years, Guangzhou has improved its education system to serve the lifelong learning needs of all, and to meet the diverse and customized needs for lifelong learning among the public. Guangzhou has built a comprehensive system of schools for various groups, such as adolescents, elders, industrial or itinerant workers, and other urban and rural residents. It has built a lifelong learning network covering urban and rural areas in the form of 'Internet+Education', to serve economic and social development. It is committed to building a learning city where 'anyone can learn anywhere, anytime.'"
Powering sustainability and health through learning
The city’s waste separation initiative carries out online and offline publicity and educational campaigns focusing on ways to reduce domestic waste.
Guangzhou is also seeking to improve residents’ health literacy and integrate prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and health promotion into its health service system.
Guangzhou is also seeking to improve residents’ health literacy and integrate prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and health promotion into its health service system.
Advancing equity and inclusion
Public welfare programmes such as the Guangzhou Lifelong Education Lecture Hall and Guangzhou’s University Hall of the Third Age provide targeted assistance to women, older people and the homeless.
Coordinated action between the education sector, the women’s federation, labour unions and other departments ensures that learning opportunities are accessible to all.
Coordinated action between the education sector, the women’s federation, labour unions and other departments ensures that learning opportunities are accessible to all.
Mr. Jiang ZhitaoDeputy Mayor of Guangzhou
"Advocating for lifelong learning for all leads to a more civilized city and a better life. The goal we set for 2035 is to achieve comprehensive and high-level modernization of education, lead the building of a learning society and a city with rich human resources, and build a new education system in line with the national central city and international metropolis of Guangzhou, a system which should be fair, excellent, invigorated, innovative, open and inclusive. We also strive to establish a modern education system that serves lifelong learning for all by 2035."
Promoting decent work and entrepreneurship
Employment and entrepreneurship are promoted through coordinated action between vocational, academic, non-academic and post-vocational education stakeholders.
Work initiatives include the Guangdong Skilled Workers programme, which has subsidized vocational skills training for 400,000 people to date. The Cantonese Cuisine Masterclass has provided training for 31,000 people, while the Southern Guangdong Home Economics programme has trained 176,000 participants.
Work initiatives include the Guangdong Skilled Workers programme, which has subsidized vocational skills training for 400,000 people to date. The Cantonese Cuisine Masterclass has provided training for 31,000 people, while the Southern Guangdong Home Economics programme has trained 176,000 participants.
Guangzhou’s good practicesThe Study and Dream Project
This project trains new industrial workers in line with economic and social development goals and lifelong learning targets.
By July 2021, 160,000 industrial workers had benefited from the project, of whom more than 80,000 obtained higher education certificates, and around 30 per cent were promoted to professional positions.
By July 2021, 160,000 industrial workers had benefited from the project, of whom more than 80,000 obtained higher education certificates, and around 30 per cent were promoted to professional positions.
Guangzhou’s good practicesYangcheng Village Officials Going to University
The project started in 2012, with around 10,000 rural grassroots cadres enrolled and more than 7,000 students obtaining higher education certificates.
Students’ overall skills were improved, which provided new talent to the agriculture sector and contributed to the revitalization of rural areas.
Students’ overall skills were improved, which provided new talent to the agriculture sector and contributed to the revitalization of rural areas.
Guangzhou’s good practicesExpanding education provision for older people
This initiative seeks to address the needs of Guangzhou’s ageing population. Guangzhou’ Open University of the Third Age was established in 2018; since then, 4 million people have participated in its education programmes. To ensure that its outreach extends to rural adults, the university has 800 village teaching sites.
Mr. Jiang ZhitaoDeputy Mayor of Guangzhou
"Moving forward, we sincerely count on the support and guidance from UNESCO, as well as mutual exchanges, learning and enhanced partnership amongst member cities. We also sincerely invite all guests to visit Guangzhou."
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: City of Guangzhou; ZHANQUN CAI/Pexels; f9photos; 4045/Getty Images; Koh Sze Kiat/Getty Images; Image Source; toa55/akaratwimages; Kzenon; shunjian123/GettyImages; 1001nights/Getty Images
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: City of Guangzhou; ZHANQUN CAI/Pexels; f9photos; 4045/Getty Images; Koh Sze Kiat/Getty Images; Image Source; toa55/akaratwimages; Kzenon; shunjian123/GettyImages; 1001nights/Getty Images
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Guangzhou
A fast changing city
Mr. Jiang Zhitao
Lifelong learning - the foundation of resilience and sustainability
Mr. Jiang Zhitao
Powering sustainability and health through learning
Advancing equity and inclusion
Mr. Jiang Zhitao
Promoting decent work and entrepreneurship
The Study and Dream Project
Yangcheng Village Officials Going to University
Expanding education provision for older people
Mr. Jiang Zhitao
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities