Derry City & Strabane Learning City

Creating learning pathways for our citizens

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Derry and Strabane Lifelong Learning Festival 2022

Celebrate the power of learning from the 25th-29th April! With events for all ages, learn something new in 2022!

Derry and Strabane – A  UNESCO Learning City

Derry City and Strabane Learning City are proud members of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities.  The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international policy-oriented providing inspiration, know-how and best practice.

What is a learning city?

A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all. UNESCO defines a learning city as a city that:

Effectively mobilises its resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning from basic to higher education

Revitalises learning in families and communities

Facilitates learning for and in the workplace

Extends the use of modern learning technologies

Enhances quality and excellence in learning

Fosters a culture of learning throughout life.

In doing so, the city enhances individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity, and sustainable development.

UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

"The Learning City Network passionately believes that learning improves the quality of an individual’s life by helping overcome challenges while promoting health and wellbeing. The Lifelong Learning Festival due to take place in April will play a key part in our plan to raise awareness of Derry and Strabane as a Learning City and celebrate the power of learning, both formal and informal."

Garreth Harvey, Chair,
Allstate NI

"The Learning City Network will seek to raise the profile of learning opportunities for all of life’s stages, helping to coordinate the region’s activities to ensure the widest access and the greatest impact in very challenging times.”

Padraig Canavan, Co-Chair
Tech Entrepreneur