'UNESCO Learning Cities International Conference' in October next year in Songdo... Incheon Yeonsu-gu hosts

'Global Health Education and Crisis Response' Theme
Sharing K-Quarantine and Edu Experience with the World

The "2020 Yeonsu Asia-Pacific UNESCO Learning Cities Conference" held in October this year, organized by Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, and the National Institute for Lifelong Education.
[Photo by Yeonsu-gu, Incheon]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The global lifelong learning event, involving 64 countries worldwide, will be held next year in Songdo International City, Incheon.

On the 14th, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon announced that it has been selected as the host city for the '2021 5th International Conference of Learning Cities' organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning.

Accordingly, Yeonsu-gu will hold the event under the theme of 'Global Health Education and Crisis Response' in October next year at Songdo Convensia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Incheon City, and the City Office of Education.

The UNESCO International Conference of Learning Cities (ICLC) is a representative global lifelong learning event held every two years rotating across continents, attended by over 5,000 participants including representatives from 229 GNLC member cities in 64 countries and 197 UNESCO member states.

Yeonsu-gu is determined that this international conference will lead regional innovation in education by establishing a new normal for learning cities in the post-COVID-19 era and sustainable development in the international community, together with world-renowned scholars and lifelong learning stakeholders.

First, at the plenary session, they plan to create new models that directly impact citizens' lives through broad case sharing and practical strategies on education and health, which are pillars of UNESCO's learning framework.

Additionally, the Global Citizen Festival will allow Yeonsu-gu to express its identity as an international city by discussing global issues such as climate change, health, human rights, equality, and cultural diversity with citizens, and presenting solutions on how to act as global citizens.

For K-Edu, which will become a new competitive edge of South Korea alongside K-Quarantine, various educational contents and platforms combined with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will be introduced, along with a book festival, media festival, and Climate Change Response Day, offering a rich learning environment.

Moreover, to promote Incheon as a cultural tourism city worldwide, plans include a fireworks festival and cultural tourism study tour programs, imprinting Songdo International City as an unforgettable venue for global citizenship education.

Gonam-seok, Mayor of Yeonsu-gu, said, "Through COVID-19, we have already confirmed how quickly and extensively local issues expand into international problems and how complex their impacts are," adding, "The future hypercomplexity triggered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution has increased the importance of future learning in the international community."

He continued, "Citizens who are educated and practice on international issues can respond better to crises," emphasizing, "Now is the era that requires international learning cities that can guide paths no one has taken before, and Yeonsu-gu will play that role together."

Yeonsu-gu finalized the hosting of the international conference recently after preparing through consultations with related organizations such as Incheon City and the City Office of Education since June.

Support letters from over 60 key figures, including President Moon Jae-in and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, also helped secure the event.

In his support letter, President Moon said, "Through the COVID-19 crisis, we have realized how important our neighbors' safety is for our own safety," and added, "I hope the spirit of inclusion and cooperation that we shared in Beijing, Mexico City, Cork, and Medell?n will continue in Incheon, South Korea."

The UNESCO International Conference of Learning Cities was previously held in Beijing, China in 2013; Mexico City, Mexico in 2015; Cork, Ireland in 2017; and Medell?n, Colombia in 2019.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.