For decades, international and national organisations have understood that lifelong learning is integral to enabling citizens to participate fully in civic and economic affairs. Yet there continues in all parts of the world to be little serious commitment to comprehensive policies for the implementation of lifelong learning. This is an important time to rethink how the policy agenda might be addressed as key international organisations debate the Sustainable Development Goals to replace the Millennium Development Goals which expire in 2015. 

During 2014, public concern about terrorism and debate about measures to address extremism and terrorism have increased considerably. 
 
In November 2014, representatives of the European Union and the Australian Government will meet for a Policy Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism and Security. The Dialogue will be an opportunity for sharing views on shared threats and on opportunities for a coordinated public policy response.

Lorna Wanosts’a Williams will share what she has learned from carrying out the work of maintaining and revitalizing Indigenous languages and cultures in the communities and the academy in Canada and how these learnings can resonate in the world.

PASCAL International Observatory in partnership with Unisa and the City of Tshwane will be offering a Learning Cities 2020 Municipal Development Workshop at Unisa on 21 August 2014. This is the fourth international workshop on Learning Cities, following previous events in Cork, Glasgow and Tampere, and is by invitation.