UNESCO Learning Cities gather at University of Limerick City Campus

UNESCO Learning Cities event featured guest speakers from the Irish Network of Learning Cities, including Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and Derry/ Strabane. As well as the sharing of best practice in the learning cities’ presentations and panel discussion. Picture: Alan Place.

Guests also heard from learners and took part in some interactive learning activities, celebrating lifelong learning in action. 

Learning Limerick hosted a UNESCO Learning Cities Seminar in University of Limerick’s City Centre Campus, Sarsfield Street, Limerick today as the flagship event for this week’s Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival. 

The event featured guest speakers from the Irish Network of Learning Cities, including Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and Derry/ Strabane. As well as the sharing of best practice in the learning cities’ presentations and panel discussion, guests were also treated to cultural performances and a tour of Fab Lab. 

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The morning proved to be a wonderful opportunity for Learning Limerick members to network with colleagues and visiting speakers, to renew links with partners and colleagues, and forge some new ones. Guests also heard from learners and took part in some interactive learning activities, celebrating lifelong learning in action. 

Speaking at the opening of the seminar event, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler said: “Limerick City and County Council has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the five cities in the Irish Network. This is an important agreement to commit each city to work together and provide mutual support to help deliver on the vision of a Learning City for all.” 

“Peer support and empathy are key drivers of our partnership. We are delighted to be committing to being close working partners with our Learning City friends in the Irish Network of Learning Cities.” 

Eimear Brophy, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and Chair of the Learning Limerick Steering Group, added: “The Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival celebrates Limerick as a UNESCO Learning City-Region. The Learning Limerick Steering Group is a proud member and award winner of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). Learning Limerick also enjoys this close collaboration with the Irish Network of Learning Cities and we support each other’s festivals and key learning events.” 

“We welcome our Learning City partners to Limerick, and this is a great opportunity to network and to also showcase what Limerick has to offer and its commitment to lifelong learning.” 

Addressing the guests at the seminar at UL City Centre Campus, Professor Ann Ledwith of University of Limerick said: “It indeed is fitting that the flagship event for the Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival this year is held in this new UL campus; and it truly embraces bringing the university into the heart of the city. University of Limerick is a proud host and supporter of the annual Lifelong Learning Festival, and we are delighted to be hosting the flagship event this year.” 

Limerick’s Lifelong Learning Festival is an annual festival of learning organised by Learning Limerick, a partnership that is collaborating to advance Limerick’s progress as a Learning Region. Membership includes Local Government, Higher Education, Further Education and Training, Local Development, Community Education, Youth Work, Social Welfare, Childcare, Migrant Integration, Mental Health Services and Limerick Chamber Skillnet. 

Limerick’s Lifelong Learning Festival is now in its 12^th year and this week has held over 130 events on such interesting and diverse activities that included law, community, wellbeing, cooking, gardening, entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, kids’ activities, art, technology, business and developing career options.  

For more stories on Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival, go HERE

For more information on Limerick Lifelong Learning Festival, go HERE

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