Gwangyang-si, Re-designated as a Lifelong Learning City by the Ministry of Education in 2021

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 18th that it has been re-designated as a lifelong learning city in the ‘2021 Lifelong Learning City Re-designation Evaluation’ in recognition of its achievements in creating a social foundation where all Gwangyang citizens can enjoy the benefits of lifelong learning without exclusion since being designated as a lifelong learning city in 2006.

The ‘2021 Lifelong Learning City Re-designation Evaluation,’ conducted since last year by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education, is an evaluation system that inspects the operational status of 175 lifelong learning cities selected since 2001 to support the establishment of lifelong education infrastructure in the region and determines whether to re-designate them.

This year, the evaluation was conducted from April based on the lifelong learning performance over three years from 2018 to 2020 for 60 metropolitan subordinate cities nationwide. Through online (Q&A) and written evaluations, Gwangyang City was finally re-designated as a lifelong learning city on May 13, continuing its status since 2006.

Municipalities selected for re-designation receive various opportunities such as participation in specialized projects by the Ministry of Education and lifelong learning consulting.

The city received favorable evaluations in areas such as strengthening the capabilities of dedicated lifelong learning personnel through meetings, briefings, roundtable discussions, and workshops involving stakeholders for lifelong learning development; supporting facilities for lifelong education for the disabled in Gwangyang to promote integration support for socially vulnerable groups; and active support efforts for literacy learners even amid the COVID-19 situation.

Additionally, areas needing improvement and enhancement, such as the expansion of the lifelong learning center website, establishment of feasible annual business plans, staffing of dedicated lifelong education personnel (lifelong educators), and comprehensive management of lifelong education performance, will be reflected in the currently underway ‘Gwangyang City Lifelong Learning City Mid- to Long-term Development Research Project.’

Gwangyang City stated that it will do its best to establish a sustainable lifelong learning city by building a more proactive lifelong education feedback system for citizens through the settlement of the lifelong learning city and the discovery of specialized projects.