The Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kaldy in Kerala, South India has played host to a conference ‘Lifelong Learning for a Sustainable Future: Environment, Economy and Society’ from 6-8 January 2024. The conference brought together scholars, practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches to promoting sustainable development through lifelong learning initiatives. 

The conference was part of the programme of the ASEM Asia-Europe hub for lifelong learning and was attended by more than 2200 delegates. The programme included a series of keynotes and panel discussions around themes relating to lifelong learning and its implementation to sustainability which included entrepreneurship and livelihood possibilities in South East Asia. Insights into traditional knowledge and healthy lifestyles including meditation and yoga as well as ways of sustaining spirituality in the modern world were also included in the programme. 

The conference ended with the publication of a South Asia Declaration on Lifelong Learning for a Sustainable Future, emphasising the need for stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, professional associations, municipal authorities, state and national partners and other education providers from a local to a national level to develop new and innovative approaches to lifelong learning that meet the needs of a dynamic and rapidly changing region.

PASCAL was represented by its Learning Cities Co-ordinator, Dr Rob Mark, from the University of Glasgow.