What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
Cork Learning City defines a Learning Neighbourhood as an area that has an ongoing commitment to learning, providing inclusive and diverse learning opportunities for whole communities through partnership and collaboration (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2017). The Learning Neighbourhoods Programme aims to support and recognize lifelong learning across Cork City’s neighbourhoods.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
The Learning Neighbourhoods initiative has been developed by the UNESCO Learning City of Cork, emphasizing lifelong learning and social inclusion. The pilot of the project (2015–2016) was conducted in collaboration with the City Council, University College Cork and Cork Education and Training Board to acknowledge and promote local lifelong learning practices. Since then, the initiative has expanded from the two pilot learning neighbourhoods (Ballyphehane and Knocknaheeny) to four, including Mayfield and Togher, in 2017 (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2017). Learning Neighbourhoods is supported by a steering group comprising staff from Cork ETB, Cork City Council, the Centre for Adult Continuing Education in UCC, CIT and representatives from the neighbourhood coordinating groups.
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
Each learning neighbourhood project involves local consultation and ongoing collaboration with neighbourhood residents and a wide range of community and education organizations. Brainstorming for ideas and plans is facilitated by the Learning Neighbourhoods Steering Group, consisting of representatives and experts from various community and education agencies (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2016). Learning Neighbourhoods has two dedicated part-time staff members to coordinate and manage the programme and develop promotional materials, resources and project evaluation.
The Learning Neighbourhood project operates according to the following principles:
- co-create, consult and involve;
- celebrate what is good;
- communicate and connect;
- develop the sustainability of initiatives;
- develop a bottom-up approach;
- promote new as well as support existing activities;
- promote equality and inclusion (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2016).
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Whom does it benefit and how?
The pilot of the project was conducted in the most deprived Cork city communities, afflicted with persistent socio-economic issues. Selection was based on consistent reports on educational disadvantage over an extended period of time, where a significant part of the population had no formal education beyond primary or lower secondary levels (Ó Tuama and O’Sullivan, 2016).
In 2015, Cork City was awarded the UNESCO Learning City Award, one of only three cities in Europe and 12 cities worldwide to be so recognized, at the second UNESCO International Conference on Learning Cities in Mexico City. The Learning City of Cork is dedicated to continuing excellence and commitment to lifelong learning, emphasizing lifelong learning and social inclusion.
The Learning Neighbourhoods Programme aims to promote active local development by building a culture of lifelong learning across the city’s neighbourhoods. Local education networks and agencies seek to benefit residents by empowering them in their decision-making regarding lifelong learning opportunities by recognizing their efforts and good practice. The programme carries out a number of activities, including:
- raising awareness of opportunities for learning;
- developing new initiatives;
- supporting promotional activities;
- offering support and guidance to sustain learning neighbourhoods’ activities (O’Sullivan and Kenny, 2016).
Ó Tuama, S. and O’Sullivan, S., 2016. Designing and implementing learning neighbourhoods in Cork’s UNESCO Learning City Project. [Online] Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2764262 [Accessed 30 November 2020].
O’Sullivan, S. and Kenny, L., 2016. Learning neighbourhood: Learning neighbourhoods pilot programme. [Online] Available at: www.ucc.ie/en/media/studyatucc/adulted/LearningNeighbourhoodsPilotReview%5b5129%5d.pdf [Accessed 30 November 2020].