Manchester Met key partner in successful UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning bid

Manchester Metropolitan University has supported Manchester City Council in a successful bid to become a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning.

It will join an international network of 356 cities and will be only one of six cities in the world to hold both the City of Lifelong Learning and City of Literature titles.

As part of this award, the University will deliver an exciting programme of learning opportunities to support the City of Lifelong Learning, providing skills and training opportunities for people living in the city who might not have been able to access higher education. 

It will be delivered through the University’s award-winning Rise programme and learning platform.

Online learning activities will be supported by face-to-face workshops and activities hosted at the University’s School of Digital Arts (SODA) and Manchester Poetry Library exploring digital technology and the creative arts, and providing opportunities to build new skills.

Professor Philip Drake, School of Digital Arts at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “We are delighted that the city has been awarded UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning. Our project will engage with and support people from across Manchester who might have traditionally not accessed higher education, and offer a wide range of new opportunities for learning and skills development.

“At Manchester Met we’re proud to support many local students into higher education and this learning programme will demonstrate the benefits and importance of lifelong learning and how it can boost skills for the city.

“Additionally, the project will engage with our students, providing them with fantastic opportunities to work alongside community partners and UNESCO, helping them gain valuable new skills to take into their future careers.”

With half (51.6%) of Manchester Met’s student population being First Generation students – the first in their family to attend university – and just under half (44.1%) residing in the Greater Manchester region, this programme demonstrates the University’s continued commitment to supporting its community with their journey into education.

Manchester Met will be working with the community, Manchester City Council and other partners to design the innovative new learning programme.