This month’s issue of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) Bulletin spotlights the fifth International Conference on Learning Cities, which took place from 27 to 30 October 2021 in Yeonsu, Republic of Korea. More than 1,500 participants from across the globe came together in person and online to explore new strategies to strengthen learning for health and to reaffirm their commitment to fostering lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The Centre for Local Economic Development at the University of Johannesburg, the host of PASCAL Africa has published papers from 14th PASCAL International Conference held in Pretoria in 2017under the title, Learning for a Better Future - Perspectives on Higher Education, Cities, Business and Civil Society. The book, edited by Marius Venter and Suzanne Hattingh, provides perspectives on a range of subjects relevant to the role of learning in progressing towards a better , sustainable future across higher education, cities, business and civil society in a context of turbulent change.

With the adoption of the Yeonsu Declaration at the fifth International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC), UNESCO learning cities from around the world pledged to place lifelong learning for health and the development of resilience at the centre of their agenda.

PASCAL subscribers will read with interest this new briefing paper from UNESCO IIEP from their Cities and Education 2030 programme. In a further phase of work, we are collaborating with IIEP through our Centre for Sustainable Healthy Learning Cities and Neighbourhood partners in Bangladesh, Philippines and Rwanda, and LCN city, Medellin.