One of the main lessons from the PASCAL PIE program which ran from 2011 to 2013 was the significance of local neighbourhoods in building inclusive loearning cities. This impact was seen particularly in Beijing and Shanghai where the learning city initiatives reached down through city and administrative district levels to local neighbourhoods where the roles of community colleges and centres was particularly important. The important research role encouraged innovations such as the eco-village project in Shanghai. Beijing encouraged good practice through awards.

The city of Cork has now decided to conduct two Learning Neighbourhood pilot projects over the coming year to test ways of building sustainable Learning Neighybourhoods that suit the conditions and context of Cork. If successful it is expected that this model will then be applied in other neighbourhoods of Cork. The projects will be in the Knocknaheeny and Ballyphehane neighbourhoods of Cork, two neighbourhoods with considerable disadvantage. The Adult and Continuing Education Centre in University College Cork will advise and support these projects.

. This is an important area for development in building learning cities that are inclusive and sustainable so that PASCAL would vwelcome advice from other cities that may wish to conduct similar Learning Neigyhbourhood pilot prijects. Please contact me if interested. We expect that the findings and outcomes of these projects will be available for the PASCAL International Conference to be held at the University of Glasgow on 3-5 June 2016.