Towards a culture of lifelong learning

This project is a first step for us. Our primary goal was to better understand how lifelong learning on a local level can be supported, using both the social (grassroot organizations and social st...

This project is a first step for us. Our primary goal was to better understand how lifelong learning on a local level can be supported, using both the social (grassroot organizations and social structures that they are part of) and physical (public space) infrastructure of a city. From that, the longterm ambition is to support UNESCO's strive for a worldwide culture of lifelong learning. When understanding the interaction between the social (in research referred to as 'cité') and physical (named 'ville') structure of a city we wanted to define a framework that helps governments and local (grassroot) organizations to find ways to increase their impact on supporting lifelong learning. A framework that shows and explains this interaction allows us to define interventions to refine the interaction between ville and cité, thus improving employability of people with a distance to the labour market.

First of all, we did succeed in creating a first framework that explains the interaction between ville and cité in relation to lifelong learning. From this understanding both grassroot organizations and (local) government can use it to define and refine their role and the way lifelong learning can be supported. Secondly, we found that in order to support local learning areas, a network on a city level is needed. And we found that libraries are willing and able to shape these networks. Further research is needed to define their role, but we learned that they are a fundamental part of the lifelong learning culture on a city level. Thirdly the students delivered a total of 12 designs of public space. Their work helps us to define effective interventions in public space when it comes to the support of lifelong learning. An 4th result, although less tangible, is that most of the partners and the students we included gave us feedback that they never thought about their own role in supporting lifelong learning from a city-perspective. A 5th result is that we found that our work is not completed. In our final presentation we found that the digital world is to be seen as a real and full pillar, next to ville and cité.