1. Cork: A Journey in Learning to be a City of Life Long Learning
Ciarán Lynch
“2nd Larissa Learning City International Conference 2016”

2. The Journey at present……

3. Before we got here….. .…. some key milestones
2002
Cork City Development Plan
2004
First Life Long Learning Festival
2011
Cork Joins PASCAL Learning City Network
2013
International Eccowell Conference focussing on interagency cooperation
Beijing 2013 First International Conference of Learning Cities
2014
Adoption of UNESCO Declaration by Cork City Council
2015
Growing Life Long Learning in Cork (GLLIC) Committee & Signing of MOU
Mexico 2nd International Conference of Learning Cities (Cork wins UNESCO Learning City Award)
2016
Cork City is successful in its bid to host UNESCO 3rd International Conference on Learning Cities (2017)

4. From a Plan... …… Cork City Development Plan 2002
Goal 7: Cork as a city of learning
Where access to learning is available for all levels and to all ages in the city.
Where the city is recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of learning and research.
Involving all stakeholders in lifelong learning:
formal – non formal - informal

5. To an idea… ….a week of festivities…. …and infinite opportunities!
Supporting a culture of learning in Cork City
Biggest event of its kind in Europe
500 events - all free
Engaging with 10,000+ citizens
A week of activities that spin out into a year of possibilities
A learning festival driven by people, unique
to Cork but transferable elsewhere…….
Investigate – Participate – Celebrate!

6. MOU signing by City Council, Colleges & Education and Training Board
Life Long Learning is now
integral in all of the following:
City Development Plan
Local Economic Plan
Local Community Development Plan
Healthy Cities Plan
Smart Cities Plan
Age Friendly Cities Plan
MOU signing by City Council, Colleges & Education and Training Board

7. The importance of creating local networks…. …
The importance of creating local networks… …..in developing learning neighbourhoods
Inclusive & shared vision for Lifelong Learning
Acknowledge the strengths of each partner whilst recognising some are better resourced than others
Support the promotion and development of referral and progression routes to further educational pathways.
Identify & respond to the learning needs of the local community in a collaborative manner
Develop formal & informal partnerships such as service level agreements to maximise resources to the benefit of local communities
Increase opportunities for local communities to access educational opportunities both locally and beyond

8. Some next steps in the journey…….
How we…..
….continue to define learning and what contributes to the growing of Cork as a city of lifelong learning
…..formally recognise informal learning & the journey of RPL to APL
….develop ‘Learning to Learn’ to become an integral component of our learning pathways
….respond to the different and often competing demands of learning as a pathway to Personal Growth and an opportunity for Continuous Professional Development.
…...further Integrate strategies between sectors to encourage educators to work together to offer the broadest range of options and opportunities to meet the needs of life long learners.

9. Come and be part of the journey…… https://vimeo