One year after officially joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, Fez is celebrating its growing role in promoting lifelong learning for all.
Fez – On March 5, the city of Fez will celebrate the first anniversary of its membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), with a ceremony under the theme “Together for Lifelong Learning.”
The event, organized by the Municipality of Fez in partnership with UNESCO’s regional office in Rabat, the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, as well as Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, and Euromed University of Fez, will serve as a platform for sharing best practices and experiences between learning cities at both national and international levels.
As part of the celebration, participants will also attend a screening of a documentary spotlighting Fez’s achievements, as well as its future plans in education, training, and lifelong learning. The film will shed light on the city’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive learning opportunities for all.
According to a statement from the large coalition of organizers, the program will feature key discussions on African Learning cities.
The organizers asserted that Fez’s inclusion in the UNESCO network is the result of continuous efforts to place education and learning at the heart of the city’s sustainable development strategy.
The same source reaffirmed the city’s commitment to transforming Fez, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, into a hub of creativity and learning for all.
They assured that Fez will continue to strive to meet the standards required by its status as a learning city by fostering strong partnerships and promoting inclusive learning in alignment with UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
The city’s learning partners also pledged to continue adopting best practices from both regional and global learning cities, expanding education beyond the classroom.
Organizers expressed hope in the statement that Fez’s active participation in the network will add significant value to the GNLC, enhance cooperation with other member cities, and contribute to a stronger, more connected global learning community.
Fez is one of three Moroccan cities, alongside Agadir and Essaouira, that joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities last year. They joined the existing cities of Marrakech, Ifrane, Chefchaouen, and Benguerir – together elevating Morocco’s representation in this movement.
Their inclusion reflects the recognition of their efforts to make lifelong learning a tangible reality for residents.
