Blogs

Challenging the 'European Area of Lifelong Learning' critically reflects on the context in which lifelong learning policies and practices are organized in Europe with contributions of researchers and policy makers in the field, including a number of colleagues associated with the PASCAL Observatory and CR&DALL. This includes a chapter entitled 'The Rise and Fall and Rise again of Learning Cities' by Lynette Jordan, Norman Longworth and Michael Osborne. 

The lastest workshop of the U21 RUR network on the topic of Research Universities and their Learning Cities was held at Hong Kong University on 21 November 2013, and hosted by Professor Mark Bray. Delegates attended from the University of Glasgow, Hong Kong University and UBC as well as collaborating universities and cities who are not part of U21. These included the University of Catania, the cities of Cork and Helsinki, Simon Fraser University and the University of Tampere. 

At this point some practical suggestions that emerged from discussion include the following:

We are very pleased that three books in the series Universities and Lifelong Learning, inspired by the PURE project, and published by Manchester University Press are now available. Details can be found at the MUP website.

The city of Cork recently hosted an international conference to follow up the initiative by the city to explore how the EcCoWell ideas developed by PASCAL under the PIE program might be implemented in Cork. EcCoWell  is directed at holistic and integrated approaches to city development that progress beyond the silos often found in cities.

The Irish Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, spoke at the conference and offered comment on the EcCoWell aspiration.  Closing remarks at the conference were given by Pat Ledwidge. The text of both addresses are available below and attached.

We are delighted to announce that Fundacion Bofil is organising in collaboration with the PASCAL Observatory a seminar and conference on 7 November 2013 in Barcelona related to the recent PIAAC report. In order to facilitate productive discussions in the seminar, the number of participants will be limited to approximately 30 invited individuals. The evening conference is opened to the general public. Full details are attached.