November 15-16 in Hangzhou (capital of Zhejiang Province (China), was held the first international Members' Meeting of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities created the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Education (Hamburg, Germany) according to the Beijing Declaration (2013). Today, to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities includes 146 cities from America, Europe, Asia and Australia. At the conference was more than a hundred heads and representatives of cities - members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, also scientists from all around the world - experts on lifelong education. Conference was organized by the National Commission of China for UNESCO, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Education and the municipality of Hangzhou.
The main objective of the conference was to demonstrate the potential of communities of cities - members of the global network - in human development, expansion of individual rights and individual opportunities in lifelong learning and, consequently, social cohesion and economic growth of cities, regions and countries.
The conference showed the real value of the global network in the development of dialogue between cities in matters of policy, of mutual learning, networking and partnership development means encouraging and recognizing progress in creating a city that learns. During the conference participants have a chance to actively communicate, present good practices from around the world to share experiences of implementing key provisions of the Beijing Declaration.
At the conference from Ukraine was presented Melitopol, a city of regional subordination in Zaporizhia region. Invitation from Organizing Committee representatives Melitopol was not accidental, because Melitopol in June 2016 joined to the community of progressive cities that direct efforts in support of lifelong learning as a priority direction of development.
The Ukrainian delegation entered coordinator of "Learning Cities" in Melitopol was vice-rector of Melitopol State Pedagogical University Sergii Pryima. On the report Sergii Pryima positioned Melitopol as active European city, which present Ukraine in the international arena. For example on the Council of Europe Programme "Intercultural Cities" was presented the achievements of the city in the development of human potential through lifelong learning. A separate part of the presentation was about helding International day of adult education in the Zaporozhia region (October, 6-8, 2016), one of the main organizers was DVV International in Ukraine.
Presentation materials on Melitopol information was presented to the General Secretary of the National Commission of China for UNESCO Mr. Yue Du and Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Education Mr. Arne Carlsen.
Note, that participation in a conference of this magnitude was made possible by close cooperation of University between UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Education (Hamburg, Germany), whose representatives recently visited Melitopol on the International days of adult education in Zaporizhia region.
Sergii Pryima, vice-rector of Melitopol State Pedagogical University