On February 14, an official ceremony was held to announce the new members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities) under the theme “Expanding opportunities for students of all ages: UNESCO learning cities change lives.” This year, 64 cities from 35 countries around the world, including the city of Sumy, were added to the network.
According to Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, the cities included in the list “demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting lifelong learning opportunities for everyone in their local communities.”
Yuriy PETRUSHENKO, the head of the Department of International Economic Relations of Sumy State University, initiated the preparation of the application for joining the city of Sumy to this international network. The inclusion of the city of Sumy in the network was made possible thanks to
the successes of Sumy State University and the city as a whole in lifelong education and achieving global Sustainable Development Goals.
This international network is only 10 years old but is rapidly expanding. At the beginning, cities from South Korea and Germany played a leading role, and now cities from all continents are actively joining the network (currently 356 cities from 79 countries around the world). This network regards education as a fundamental factor in city development. Participation in this international network is an opportunity to cooperate, learn, express opinions, share experiences, and receive support for victory and development.
More about the UNESCO network of learning cities can be found at the link.
