Cities of learning

The Saudi cities of Madinah, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), and Al-Ahsa have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

The new cities were announced on 14 February, during a high-level virtual event “Empowering Learners of All Ages: UNESCO Learning Cities Transform Lives”, at which a total of 64 cities from 35 countries joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in recognition of their outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level.

With this development, Saudi Arabia now boasts five cities enlisted in the UNESCO GNLC, contributing to the goal of equipping globally competitive citizens in alignment with the sustainable development goals and Saudi Vision 2030. Previously, Yanbu Industrial City was designated as a UNESCO Learning City in 2022, and Jubail Industrial City earned the Learning City status in 2020. Moreover, Jubail Industrial City received the UNESCO Learning City Award in 2021.

Al Madinah Al Munawwarah’s lifelong learning vision is, in the medium term, to expand access to education, stimulate innovation, promote cultural diversity, integrate technology and support lifelong learning. In the longer term, it seeks to become a global education and innovation hub, cultivate a skilled workforce, preserve culture, encourage entrepreneurship and establish knowledge-sharing partnerships.

Al-Ahsa aims to cultivate a future-ready, knowledgeable society. Over the next few years, the city will focus on inclusive learning, technology and skills development, while long-term objectives encourage creativity and global partnerships. The city prioritises education for marginalized groups, emphasises literacy in remote areas and works to provide efficient student transportation.

King Abdullah Economic City aims to cultivate a culture valuing continuous learning, diversify educational opportunities for all ages, and prioritise digital learning infrastructure. Long-term objectives pivot towards creating an integrated learning ecosystem, focusing on indispensable future skills, and establishing the city as a global epicentre for educational innovation.

*UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay* – Photo UNESCO

Launched in 2012, the UNESCO GNLC aims to support and improve lifelong learning practices in cities worldwide. This is achieved by fostering dialogue on education policies, establishing connections between cities and various educational institutions, and enhancing partnerships between cities at local and international levels.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said, “Cities are key to transforming the right to education into a tangible reality for individuals of all ages. With the new admissions, the network now includes 356 member cities from all around the world that share know-how and pave the way for lifelong learning opportunities for 390 million citizens.

The listing of the new cities in KSA is the result of the collective efforts of the National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, under the directives and support of the Minister of Culture, Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan, and the Minister of Education, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, who is also the committee’s vice chairman.

Learning Cities leverage their resources across all sectors to promote comprehensive learning for all, from primary education to higher education. They also stimulate learning within families and local communities, facilitate learning for work, and expand the use of modern educational tools to foster a culture of lifelong learning.

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