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2023 Urban Community Learning Centers (CLC) Capacity Building Project Promotion Meeting was successfully in Guangzhou
Community Learning Centers (CLC) are instrumental for the provision of learning opportunities and skills training from a local perspective, as they involve local residents and consider their local needs. More importantly, they are also an essential contributor to the advancement of lifelong education. From 6th to 9th April, the 2023 Urban Community Learning Centers (CLC) Capacity Building Project Promotion Meeting took place in Guangzhou. The meeting was held to promote the UNESCO CONFINTEA VII Marrakech framework for Action on Adult Education and Lifelong learning.
The first phase of the Urban Community Learning Centers (CLC) Capacity Building Project was launched in 2019, which was focused on the development of CLCs in relation to lifelong learning. In 2022, the second phase of the project was initiated, which increased the number of pilot sites from 15 to 33, and it is expected to last until 2025. So as to ensure the second phase of the project is progressing accordingly, the 2023 Urban Community Learning Centers (CLC) Capacity Building Project Promotion Meeting was held in in Guangzhou city, being the first offline plenary meeting after the launch of the second phase of the project last year. Guangzhou city had been designated as a Learning City by UNESCO.
The meeting was organized by the China Adult Education Association, the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau and Guangzhou Open University, with the support and guidance of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Beijing Office. Among the attendees, present were Mr. Gao Wenbing, Director of the China Adult Education Association (CAEA), Ms. Shen Chunshan, Director of the Vocational Education and Urban and Rural Social Education Division of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Cui Bangyan, former Deputy Director and Secretary of the China Adult Education Association, Ms. Bao Huaying, Deputy Director of the China Adult Education Association and Urban CLC Project Manager, Mr. Gu Zhongpeng, Deputy Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau and Deputy Director of the Leading Education Group of the Municipal Party Committee, Mr. Xiong Jun, Deputy Secretary of Guangzhou Open University’s Party Committee and Dean of the university, Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist of the UNESCO Beijing Office, Mr. Xu Zhan, Deputy Director of the Extracurricular Training Department of the Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau, Mr. Sun Shuping, Head of the Project Experts Team, Mr. Zhang Zhupeng and Mr. Zhou Yanjun, Deputy Heads of the Project Experts Team, and Mr. Jiang Genxing, Project Secretary-General. In addition, more than 100 representatives of the 33 pilot sites attended the meeting.
During the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Gao Wenbing highlighted the successful outcomes derived from the first phase of the Urban CLC Capacity Building Project, and suggested strategic areas for its future implementation: (i) to increase the alignment to the Chinese government’s strategies, (ii) to understand comprehensively the needs of the communities, taking the development for a better community as the foremost priority, (iii) to persist with a mindset of innovation, and (iv) to generate good practices and case studies that can be shared in the international arena.
In the meeting, Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist of the UNESCO Beijing Office, presented the core essence of lifelong learning and the key priorities of the UNESCO CONFINTEA VII Marrakesh Framework for Action. Lifelong learning is a crucial aspect for the development of sustainable cities. The Adult Education stakeholders must implement the action plan of the framework at country level. The promotion of quality lifelong learning opportunities for all is part of the education commitment stated in the 2015 Incheon Declaration. However, even more recently, the Marrakech Framework for Action was adopted at the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education on 17 June 2022, whereby it was reiterated the critical importance of adult education and learning a strategic priority.
Ms. Shen Chunshan also reaffirmed the need for project managers and testing units to acknowledge the importance of CLCs and their contribution to the creation of learning societies. In the vision to create ideal exemplary CLCs, she encouraged the acceleration of the operational procedures and the increase of theoretical innovation and guidance in the delivery of successful programmes.
Mr. Gu Zhongpeng stated that last year Guangzhou was incorporated into the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. And being Guangzhou Open University a representative pilot site, this project promotion meeting embodies the reassurance and potential that Guangzhou city to become a sustainable lifelong learning city.
Ms. Bao Huaying also emphasized her vision, expectations and hopes for the project. She called for a quality starting point and delivery of the activities. She also called the CLC managers and staff to work with five “must-have” attitudes, including the devotion of feelings, warmth, efficiency, principles and discipline.
The four-day long meeting was very fruitful as the progress of the project was reported, paired with insightful dialogues and seminars themed on the overarching topic of urban CLCs for the promotion of adult education and lifelong learning. The meeting concluded with an on-site visit to the community centers, where it was showcased the educational activities performed by the elders. They exhibited the work performed on the ground and their efforts in translating lifelong education into reality.
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