CR&DALL SEMINAR SERIES 2012 - 2013 Please note the venue!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2013

5.30PM TILL 7PM

Room 127, Rutherford McCowan Building, Crichton Campus, Dumfries

The development of a network of learning cities and a learning city index: rationale, objectives and implications for a Learning Town initiative
With Dumfries considering its position as a possible Learning Town location, the event will be an opportunity for those involved or interested in the concept, to hear from speakers with international experience in the field. (Introduction by Professor Mike Osborne Director of CR&DALL)

Dr. Jin Yang

Senior Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), Hamburg, Germany

Dr. Peter Kearns

Director, Global Learning Services, Australia, Co- director of PASCAL International Exchanges (PIE)

Dr. Roberta Piazza

University of Catania, Italy

Presentation
In recent years, several studies have shown that the creation of learning cities has become an effective instrument in promoting lifelong learning in the international community, despite various challenges. A nation aspiring to build a learning society or develop a lifelong learning system may use the names learning cities, learning regions or learning communities to mobilise or encourage their local authorities. To facilitate the development of learning cities in the international community, a truly global network of learning cities is needed. UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), in collaboration with interested national, regional and international organisations and agencies as well as private sector corporations, proposes the establishment of the UNESCO Global Learning Cities Network (UNESCO-GLCN) to enhance and accelerate the practice of lifelong learning in the worlds urban communities. The overall aim of the establishment of the UNESCO-GLCN is to create a global platform to mobilise cities and demonstrate how to use effectively their resources in every sector to develop and enrich all their human potential to foster lifelong personal growth, the development of equality and social justice, the maintenance of harmonious social cohesion, and the creation of sustainable prosperity. One of the objectives of the UNESCO-GLCN is to develop a Global Learning City Index. To be reliable and instrumental, the development of the index needs to reflect inter alia - a variety of principles, policies and approaches in building learning cities in the international community, including political will and commitment, partnership and networking, increasing learning opportunities, combating exclusion and enhancing social cohesion, promoting wealth creation and employability, as well as recognising and rewarding all forms of learning.

Biographies
Dr. Jin Yang carries out research on lifelong learning policies and strategies, facilitates the development of an international network of learning cities/regions, and coordinates UILs programme to develop capacity for establishing lifelong learning systems in UNESCO Member States. Before his secondment to UIL in 2008, Dr Yang served as the Deputy DirectorGeneral of the Department of Basic Education in the Ministry of Education of China and the National EFA Coordinator. He led the development and implementation of many national programmes in the fields of early childhood care and education, primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education as well as adult literacy in China. He received his B.Sc in engineering at Xian Jiaotong University in China, M.Ed in comparative education and Ph.D in economics of education at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Over the years, Dr Yang has published many books, papers and book reviews in English and Chinese. Dr. Peter Kearns combines extensive consultancy experience across all sectors of education and training with policy experience at a Senior Executive Service level in the field of education in the Australian Public Service. He has

considerable international reference, including three years as a member of the Australian Delegation to OECD in Paris. Peter has a special interest in innovative strategies for fostering lifelong learning and building creative learning communities. PIE (the PASCAL International Exchanges) involves 14 cities located across 5 continents for exchanges of information and experience in building sustainable humane cities. He has directed conceptual work for PASCAL on connecting learning, health, environment aspirations in sustainable Opportunity Cities Peter Kearns was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 for his service to education and training. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and has a considerable body of publications to his name in the fields of lifelong learning and employability. Dr Roberta Piazza is Associate Professor of Adult Education in the University of Catania (Italy). She is project manager and coordinator of the postgraduate course Expertise in Job Placement Services and is the key staff member for the J. Monnet Programme New skills for new challenges: sharing and boosting knowledge on European policies. She is a staff member on the International PHD in Education programme (University of Rome, Tor Vergata and University of Granada, Spain) and she has taken part in several European research projects on lifelong learning and learning cities. She is a delegate of the Faculty in the Centre for Continuing Education at Catania and is an Executive Board member of the Commission for European Research Projects in the Faculty. Her research work concerns education methodologies, adult education, lifelong learning and lifelong guidance. Questions and discussion are encouraged as part of the Seminar.

The UNESCO Global Learning Cities Network (UNESCO-GLCN) is supported by

While the CR&DALL Seminar Series is free and open to all, we do ask that you register in order to allow us to plan accommodation and refreshments. Places are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If you intend to come along to the Seminar please e-mail us at cradall@educ.gla.ac.uk and provide your name, institution/department (if appropriate) and a daytime contact telephone number (in case of cancellation). Thank you. CR&DALL, Room 614, School of Education, University of Glasgow, St. Andrew's Building, Eldon St., GLASGOW G3 6NH 0141 330 1833 www.gla.ac.uk/departments/cradall/