The Chairman of the PASCAL Governing Board, Dr Josef Konvitz, issued the following statement today on the inauguration of the new program of Learning Cities Networks, a PASCAL Learning Cities 2020 project:

I am pleased to announce today the formal inauguration of the new PASCAL program of Learning Cities Networks. This program replaces the PASCAL International Exchanges (PIE) program, which operated between 2011 and 2013, and builds on the lessons and insights from that program.

While PIE contributed much to fostering awareness of developments in learning cities around the world, the new program aims to be more interactive and policy-oriented than PIE. Networks of cities and institutions will be substantially self-directed, and with a group of PASCAL advisers supporting the Networks.

At this stage, five Networks will be operating under the program. The Networks and their founding members are listed below.

Learning Cities Networks - July 2014

1. Implementing an EcCoWell Approach - Cork, Glasgow, Taipei, University of Tampere
2. Connecting urban and rural learning initiatives - Beijing, Limerick, Cork, University of Botswana, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of the Free State, Gwydir Shire
3. Harnessing Cultural Policies in Building Sustainable Learning Cities - Jamtli Foundation Ostersund, Nam-gu Incheon City, Nordic Centre for Heritage Learning & Creativity, Glasgow Life, Cultural Development Network (Australia)
4. Addressing Disadvantage to Build Inclusive Learning Cities - Limerick, Kaunas, Glasgow, Suncheon
5. Entrepreneurial learning cities - Swansea, Kaunas, and a network of communities around the world.

PASCAL welcomes expressions of interest from other cities and institutions that would like to participate in the Networks. Enquiries may be directed to Peter Kearns ([email protected]) and Denise Reghenzani ([email protected])

The new Networks are innovative in a number of respects in extending the learning city idea into several new fields. These include the Network focussed on Connecting urban and rural learning initiatives which links cities and institutions in China, Ireland, Australia, and several parts of Africa. I am delighted that several universities in Africa are participating in the Networks in addressing an issue that is particularly important for African development. The EcCoWell Network will follow up on the splendid work the city of Cork has undertaken in exploring how EcCoWell principles directed at holistic and integrated development in cities can be implemented.

While this program will be influenced by lessons that emerged from the experience of PIE over three years, it will also take account of themes in the conclusions of the PASCAL conference held in Hong Kong last November. The learning city idea was given a considerable boost in 2013 with the convening of a major UNESCO conference in Beijing that explored key aspects of learning city development. It is now timely to progress further through international partnership and collaboration in examining important dimensions of sustainable learning cities that harness learning strategies to address the many issues confronting cities around the world. PASCAL remains committed to this aspiration with our Learning Cities 2020 program with the Networks initiative the initial step in defining the characteristics of learning cities for a sustainable future. I commend this program to all interested in exploring ways in which the learning city ideal can be harnessed for this purpose.

Dr Josef Konvitz
Chairman of the Governing Board
PASCAL International Observatory
July 1, 2014