UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Bulletin, November 2025

IN FOCUS

UIL, in collaboration with SOU, launches a strategic partnership to advance learning cities through innovation, capacity-building and knowledge exchange

UIL, in collaboration with Shanghai Open University (SOU), has launched the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Academy – UIL/SOU Innovation and Capacity-Building Hub. Formalized through a three-year partnership agreement signed on 17 October 2025, the initiative represents an important step for the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. The Hub will support more than 350 UNESCO Learning Cities across 79 countries in achieving their development goals by strengthening local capacities and generating cutting-edge knowledge.

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‘The UIL–SOU Hub is the world’s first collaborative hub focused on innovation and capacity-building for learning cities. It aims to integrate global expertise and focus on cutting-edge areas such as AI empowerment and healthy aging. The Hub will provide practical, actionable solutions to foster inclusive and resilient future learning cities.’

Mr Wei Jia, President, Shanghai Open University

‘Building on a decade of growth, knowledge exchange, and structural development, the Global Network of Learning Cities is now entering a new phase – one focused on excellence in lifelong learning at the local level. The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Academy – UIL/SOU Innovation and Capacity-Building Hub will play a key role in this endeavour.’

Ms Isabell Kempf, Director,
UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning

Capacity-Building Workshops: Strengthening Lifelong Learning Across the Globe From 14 to 17 October 2025, UIL, in cooperation with SOU, hosted a series of capacity-building workshops for country and city teams. The sessions focused on advancing lifelong learning at both national and local levels. Key topics included improving education systems through a lifelong learning perspective, promoting education for sustainable development and strengthening the digital skills of adult educators.

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Voices from participants

‘The exchange of practical ideas and global best practices has provided us with invaluable insights and inspiration, enabling us to strengthen our national policy and create sustainable pathways for lifelong learning in the Maldives.’

H.E. Ms Aminath Maria, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Republic of Maldives

‘Engaging with representatives from different countries opened my eyes to the power of collective knowledge and how local action can be strengthened by global insight. I plan to bring these lessons home by fostering stronger partnerships with our national agencies and promoting inclusive, community-based learning programmes. I aim to make lifelong learning not only accessible but also deeply rooted in our city’s policies and initiatives – ensuring that every Balangueño has the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to a smarter, more compassionate community.’

Ms Reanna Mendoza, UNESCO Learning City of Balanga, Republic of the Philippines

‘As the National Coordinator for Adult Learning and Community Education, my key learnings from the capacity-building workshop include the critical need for adult educators to receive targeted, context-specific digital training that goes beyond general ICT skills. The Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy (DELTA) framework presents a holistic model integrating andragogy, technology and lifelong learning – an approach that strongly aligns with Uganda’s aspirations for digital transformation in non-formal education and broader socio-economic development.’

Ms Imelda Engabi Kyaringabira, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Republic of Uganda

Capacity-building workshop: ‘Strengthening Data Collection for the Sixth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education’

From 15 to 16 October 2025, UIL and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) hosted a regional workshop in Shanghai, China, to strengthen data collection for the Sixth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 6), to be published in 2027.

Participating teams from 14 countries across Asia and Europe came together to build their capacity to collect reliable data and complete the GRALE 6 questionnaire. Their contributions will help generate a clearer global picture of adult learning and education, informing policy and practice worldwide.

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‘The preparation of the Sixth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education coincides with a period of significant restructuring in global education governance. The report will serve not only as a systematic assessment of progress towards the Marrakech Framework for Action and SDG 4, but also as a strategic guide for advancing global adult learning and education into a new phase. It will provide critical direction for building a more equitable, inclusive and high-quality global lifelong learning ecosystem.’

Ms Wen Yuan, President, Shanghai Normal University

UNESCO Member States are cordially invited to submit their data for the Sixth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education by 15 December 2025.

New publications

Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults

Digital inclusion is essential for full participation in modern society. Yet older adults around the world continue to face barriers to accessing and using digital technologies. How can they participate fully in the digital age and lead autonomous, healthy and connected lives?

Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults – a research report co-implemented by UIL and the Institute for the Future of Education (IFE), Monterrey – explores how organizations across six countries – Bahrain, Chile, China, Poland, South Africa and the United States of America – are advancing digital learning for older adults.

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Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy (DELTA) for Adult Educators

Adult educators are vital agents of change, helping learners navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Yet many still lack access to the professional development and institutional support needed to thrive in the digital age.

In response, UIL and SOU have launched the Digital Empowerment for Lifelong Learning and Transformative Andragogy (DELTA) framework. Developed collaboratively with experts from nine countries, the framework promotes flexible, inclusive learning and provides open educational resources (OERs) to strengthen digital capacity-building worldwide.

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Advancing Intergenerational Learning: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities for Older Adults

Intergenerational experiences play a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of both older and younger generations.

This research report, developed as part of the broader UIL project Higher Education Institutions: Responses to the Learning Needs of Ageing Societies, presents case studies from Europe and North America, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific. It showcases diverse strategies for designing intergenerational learning initiatives and highlights the policy frameworks and implementation contexts within which these global programmes operate.

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International Review of Education

Journal of Lifelong Learning

In the spotlight:
Creating our future: Possibilities and pitfalls in building more inclusive societies through lifelong learning

by Ms Isabell Kempf, UIL Director, and Mr Nicolas Jonas, European Training Foundation

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The Editor’s Monthly Choice

Bordering and re-bordering in education: Introduction
Christine Fox, Suzanne Majhanovich and Fatma Gök

Evolving African attitudes to European education: Resistance, pervert effects of the single system paradox, and the ubuntu framework for renewal
N’Dri Thérèse Assié-Lumumba

Comparative Indigenous education research (CIER): Indigenous epistemologies and comparative education methodologies
Elizabeth Sumida Huaman

Discover our virtual exhibition, Education Across Borders: 70 Years of the International Review of Education.

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Events

Unlocking the Power of Lifelong Learning: A global webinar series

Don’t miss the next webinars in the series:

On 19 November 2025, UIL and SHNU will host the webinar ‘TVET Teachers and Lifelong Learning’. The session will explore the evolving role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) teachers in fostering a culture of lifelong learning, highlight global trends, and examine the opportunities and challenges they face.

Learn more and register now

On 20 November 2025, UIL will host the webinar ‘The International Review of Education: 70 Years of Research in Lifelong Learning’. Join us as we celebrate the launch of the 70th anniversary special issue of the International Review of Education. This edition offers valuable insights into the evolution of lifelong learning and explores its significance for the future.

Learn more and register now

Watch the recording of our latest webinar, ‘Global Alliance for Literacy: Empowering educators, advancing literacy’

UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Bulletin, November 2025

By mtaandragogia

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