Cities of Learning Network

Cities, Regions and Island of Learning is an informal network of more than 35 organisations that operate in more than 40 locations in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. We make learning open, accessible and inclusive to all learners, especially to young people in our locations. We use the Cities of Learning online platform and digital Open Badges to facilitate thriving learning ecosystems and unique recognition systems.

Objectives

During 2023-2026 we plan to consolidate our Network’s operational activities aiming at these objectives:

  • To continue engaging, connecting and empowering young people to shape local, regional, national and European youth policies, especially non-formal learning and recognition
  • To strengthen our capacity and impact on policy areas relevant to young people, specifically on non-formal learning, mental health, youth participation, sustainability and inclusion
  • To increase our commitment and cooperation between Cities of Learning members and with external partners, such as public authorities at local, regional and national levels as well as European networks, initiatives and institutions
  • To boost youth stakeholder participation in digital transformation and adopting learning technologies, specifically the Cities of Learning platform, digital Open Badges and Badge Wallet
  • To support the Cities of Learning dissemination of policy recommendations, our good practices and results among members and beyond

Activities

The following activities will contribute to achieving our objectives:

  • Young people’s engagement
  • Connecting policy and practice
  • Networking activities (internal and external)
  • The Cities of Learning platform
  • Communication and dissemination
  • Adhoc activities: partner meetings, learning mobilities, strategic partnerships

Impact target groups: young people as participants and youth leaders as peer leaders, CoL Network members, youth work organisations, learning providers, other sectors, primarily on schools, higher education, VET and Adult education, decision and policymakers.

Interested to join the Cities of Learning Network. Write to info@nectarus.lt

Young people’s engagement

We aim to engage, connect and empower young people to shape local, regional, national and European youth policies. Methods and activities:

1.1 Engaging young people in youth consultation activities about their needs, interests and capacity within the Cities of Learning cooperation framework. Action research methods: online surveys, focus groups, participatory workshops, and mapping activities.

1.2 Connecting young people through Virtual Exchanges, international youth exchanges and volunteering opportunities. Methods: virtual activities where young people meet to exchange current European themes; intercultural learning, non-formal learning, and peer education within Youth Exchanges and through volunteering.

1.3 Empowering young people through co-designing learning pathways, and youth ambassadors’ activities. Methods: coaching youth groups, training courses, participatory workshops, regular Cities of Learning online youth meetings.

Connecting policy and practice

We aim to strengthen capacity and impact the implementation of policies in areas relevant to young people (see recommendations). Methods and activities:

2.1 Cities of Learning strategic partnerships in 5 policy areas relevant to young people in our locations.

2.2 Supporting young people’s projects, initiatives and actions in 5 policy areas: non-formal learning, mental health, youth participation, sustainability and inclusion.

2.3 Monitoring and influencing European youth policy developments relevant to Cities of Learning Network members and young people in our locations.

Networking activities (internal and external)

We aim to increase commitment and cooperation between Cities of Learning members and external partners. Methods and activities:

3.1 Cities of Learning Network members’ bi-monthly meetings online. Methods: collecting member needs, interests and contributions, preparing agenda, using digital facilitation tools, documenting good practices, and involving youth co-managers.

3.2 Managing internal communication and collaboration channels and tools. Methods: Slack teams, WhatsApp community, GDrive, email digests.

3.4 Supporting CoL Network members in building local learning ecosystems, networks and relations with public authorities. Methods: Members’ peer coaching system, good practice exchange, providing guidelines, tools and resources, and study visits.

3.5 CoL Network members’ engagement with European networks, initiatives, and institutions. Methods: mapping stakeholders, sharing European events’ calendar, coordinated engagement actions, participation in the European networks, events and initiatives.

Cities of Learning platform

We aim to boost youth stakeholder participation in digital transformation and adopting learning technologies. Methods and activities:

4.1 Promoting Cities of Learning platform, digital Open Badges and Badge Wallet App to learners, youth work organisations, educators in other sectors and policymakers. Methods: public presentations, open workshops, training activities, individual/team coaching support.

4.2 Developing necessary competences of youth leaders, youth workers, and educators to use digital technologies for learning and recognition. Methods: training activities, individual/team coaching support.

4.3 Public authorities’ support for the Cities of Learning platform’s adoption as a learning and recognition infrastructure. Methods: direct email and online communication, writing articles, making presentations, attending events, peer coaching support.

4.4 Cities of Learning platform’s technical maintenance and developments. Methods: 6 months cycles of design thinking, prototyping, programming, piloting and deploying bug fixes, improvements, and new features.

Communication and dissemination

We aim to support the dissemination of policy recommendations, our good practices and results. Methods and activities:

5.1 Social media communication. Methods: regular postings on the Cities of Learning Facebook page and Linkedin page. When necessary, using paid campaigns to increase the reach.

5.2 Cities of Learning Newsletter. Methods: collecting CoL Network member’s inputs, copyediting, publishing and disseminating new CoL Newsletters issues

5.3 Cities of Learning blog. Methods: Regular updates with new blog entries. Collecting CoL Network member’s inputs, copyediting, publishing and disseminating

5.4 Cities of Learning Youtube channel.  Methods: maintenance, dissemination.

 

Cities of Learning members

Below is a list of organisations which commit to making learning open, accessible and inclusive for all in our territories and communities.

Contact us info@nectarus.lt to join our thriving network of people and organisations.