A seminar hosted by Ege University, Izmir held at the Ataturk Cultural Centre, presented an opportunity for Dr Rob Mark, PASCAL Learning Cities Coordinator, to inform professionals including university staff  and residents about the strengths of working together to build sustainable learning cities for a better future. Izmir is a city of almost 5 million people and Ege University has a population of more than 50,000 students. 

The lecture also included examples of how PASCAL Learning Cities are meeting everyday challenges from for example in dealing with the effects of poverty, ageing and the effects of climate change.

Participants expressed the desire to encourage the development of new models and approaches to promote lifelong learning which are inclusive, and which encourage cooperation across public and private services in the city.