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Dear Reader,
Welcome to the August / September edition of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) newsletter.
This issue features information about International Literacy Day 2023, the Global Alliance for Literacy’s annual general meeting, the UIL Think Tank meeting on citizenship education as well as the highly anticipated SDG Summit taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in September.
It also includes the latest news on other upcoming events, including Digital Learning Week, the EdTechKorea Forum, the International Conference on Promoting Lifelong Learning in Higher Education, and Hamburg’s Heritage Days, when UIL will open its doors to the public.
You will also find information about the new issue of the International Review of Education and recent UIL publications
I wish you an enjoyable read.
Borhene Chakroun
UIL Director a.i.
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International Literacy Day 2023
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Despite great advances in advancing literacy around the world, an estimated 763 million people still lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, two-thirds of whom are women.
For this year’s International Literacy Day (ILD) on 8 September, UNESCO will gather key stakeholders from across the globe to discuss innovative literacy strategies and programmes in relation to the theme ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’. UIL will contribute to this main event.
The Institute will also host the annual general meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) a day prior, on 7 September, underscoring its commitment to addressing the challenge of persistent low literacy.
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Annual general meeting of the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL)
The Global Alliance for Literacy will meet on 7 September 2023 for its annual general meeting, whose theme, ‘Literacy for peaceful societies’, has been developed to coincide with that of this year’s ILD. Progress on advancing literacy in the 30 GAL member countries, with a particular emphasis on those in crisis-affected regions, will be on the agenda.
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Effective Literacy and Numeracy Practices Database – LitBase
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The exchange of experience and transfer of knowledge are crucial to the promotion of literacy and numeracy efforts. Discover UIL’s LitBase – a selection of effective adult literacy and numeracy programmes from across the world – to gain inspiration.
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#ImALifelongLearner campaign
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#ImALifelongLearner
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Literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning and an integral part of the right to education.
To mark this year’s International Literacy Day, show the world that you believe in the transformative power of literacy and learning by joining UIL’s campaign, #ImALifelongLearner.
How to get involved:
- Upload a photo of yourself on UIL's campaign platform, adding a sentence explaining why you are a lifelong learner and support the advancement of literacy around the world;
- Use the ‘share’ function on the platform to share your photo and statement on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, using the hashtag #ImALifelongLearner and #LiteracyDay;
- Tag people in your network who support literacy and lifelong learning for all, so they, too, can join the movement.
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The 2023 SDG Summit will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A preliminary assessment of the roughly 140 targets with data show that the majority are off track. Despite some progress, this is also the case for SDG 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
On 18 and 19 September 2023, world leaders will convene at the UN Headquarters in New York to mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs, including how to achieve universal access to quality education by 2030.
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‘The time has come to move away from the traditional static vision of education and towards adaptable and effective lifelong learning systems and the emergence of a true learning society as a major contribution to nation-building, peace, human rights and broader sustainable development. … In order to promote a true learning society, education systems must shift away from rigid, fragmented structures and towards a process of lifelong learning built on learning, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities throughout life in both formal and informal spaces.'
António Guterres,
United Nations Secretary-General
Our Common Agenda, Policy Brief 10: Transforming education
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Save the date! SDG Action Weekend side event hosted by the Republic of Indonesia and UIL on 17 September
On 17 September 2023, 11:45 (EDT), as part of the SDG Action Weekend, the Republic of Indonesia, UIL and further partners will host a side event about lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling for a resilient workforce as a follow up to the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) and the Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference in Bali. It will take place in Conference Room 6 of the UN Headquarters in New York. High-level speakers will discuss how to build inclusive lifelong learning systems, with a focus on improving upskilling and reskilling opportunities to ensure that no one is left behind.
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Citizenship education within a lifelong learning perspective
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Think tank meeting
UIL, with the support of the Asian Pacific Centre for Education of International Understanding (APCEIU), hosted a think tank meeting titled 'Placing citizenship education within a lifelong learning perspective: From research to action' on 31 August 2023. Representatives of international organizations and academia, as well as human rights individual experts and practitioners, discussed vital aspects of citizenship education within a lifelong learning perspective, shedding light on how it can effectively promote inclusivity, equity, and sustainability.
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Citizenship education is instrumental to creating a lifelong learning culture that supports learning to live together.
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education
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UIL to present on Day 1 of UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2023
UNESCO Digital Learning Week, from 4–7 September 2023, will examine digital learning platforms and generative AI, examining how both can enrich education opportunities. UIL will present its expertise on how digital learning platforms can be leveraged for adult learners on Day 1, Session 1.3.
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Hamburg Heritage Day
On 10 September, UIL will open its doors to the public as part of a series of events being held across the city to mark an annual celebration of historical monuments. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the building and learn more about its original owner, the shipping magnate Albert Ballin. Built in 1908, the imposing villa provided Ballin with a prestigious setting for the visits of high-ranking guests, among them Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German emperor. It has served as the headquarters of UIL since 1978.
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2023 EdTech Korea Forum
On 20 and 22 September 2023, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea, in partnership with UIL and
the Korea Digital Education Frontiers Association (KEFA), will host the EdTech Korea Forum. Under the theme ‘Create an inclusive future of education with AI’, policy-makers and government officials from more than two dozen countries will join experts from UNESCO, academia and industry to discuss how AI can be leveraged to make education and learning more inclusive.
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UIL to showcase its work during German Unity Day festivities
On 2 and 3 October 2023, UIL will showcase its work to the public as part of the national German Unity Day Citizens’ Festival in Hamburg, where the Institute is headquartered. Under the theme ‘Diversity, modernity and internationality’, the festival will provide a platform for government stakeholders, local associations and international organizations based in Hamburg to promote their work in locations throughout the city centre. Established in 1952 in Hamburg, UIL is an integral part of the city’s post-war revival and was a symbol of UNESCO’s commitment to promoting international understanding through education.
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International Conference on Promoting Lifelong Learning in Higher Education: From institutional strategies to practical implementation
In a world marked by rapid technological advancements, pressing climate crises and persistent social inequalities, the need to transform education is intrinsic to our future sustainable development. To examine some of the innovative institutional strategies and implementation approaches to transforming higher education institutions into lifelong learning agents, UIL and Shanghai Open University will welcome over 200 education experts and related stakeholders to Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, from 19 to 21 October for the International Conference on Promoting Lifelong Learning in Higher Education.
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International Review of Education
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New issue of IRE:
A river runs through us
The six contributions to the latest issue of the International Review of Education – Journal of Lifelong Learning (IRE)
explore examples of educational practice, pedagogy and curriculum development which challenge some of the traditional assumptions framing education systems and approaches, and offer actionable recommendations for change, with a particular emphasis on sustainable development and quality.
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Join the UIL Learning Hub, a one-stop online multimedia portal for policy development support, capacity development and knowledge sharing on lifelong learning.
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Inspiring stories from the Global Network of Learning Cities
The power of lifelong learning at the local level.
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Informal language learning and media for migrants
This report on the 2022 conference of the same name summarizes the key insights that arose from the two-part event, which took place on 20 May and 9 December in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, respectively.
Access the publication
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