Hanam City Unveils Vision for the 4th Mid- to Long-Term Lifelong Education Development Plan
UNESCO Learning City Hanam Accelerates the Establishment of Customized Regional Learning Ecosystems
Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) announced on November 7 that it held an interim briefing session on November 6 at the city hall situation room to establish the "Hanam City Lifelong Education Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan." This briefing session was organized to share the five-year vision for Hanam as a lifelong learning city and to specify the direction of citizen-tailored lifelong education policies.
Lee Hyun-jae, Mayor of Hanam City, held an interim briefing session on June 6 at the city hall situation room to establish the "Hanam City Lifelong Education Mid- to Long-Term Development Plan." Provided by Hanam City
The Lifelong Education Council is an advisory and deliberative body established in accordance with the Hanam City Lifelong Education Promotion Ordinance. It consists of 12 experts in the fields of education, culture, welfare, and civic affairs, including Mayor Lee Hyunjae as the chairperson. The council is responsible for formulating lifelong education promotion plans, operating learning centers, and coordinating cooperation among institutions.
At the meeting, Professor Song Youngsun of Konkuk University (lead researcher) delivered the interim research report, explaining the achievements of Hanam City's lifelong education initiatives and the future strategies for implementation.
According to the report, over the past five years, Hanam City has established a stable and sustainable foundation as a learning city through the development of a Hanam-style learning delivery system, expansion and improved accessibility of learning spaces, approval for membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, establishment of a performance management system, and the institutionalization of citizen talent development and learning voucher programs.
Furthermore, a survey on lifelong learning conducted among Hanam citizens showed that more than 74% of respondents believe lifelong education contributes to improving quality of life, demonstrating that lifelong learning has become a key factor in enhancing quality of life, beyond just a hobby or leisure activity.
Based on these achievements, the interim report presented several key strategic tasks: advancing customized learning hubs for each region, building a dynamic learning ecosystem to support generation-specific career transitions and growth, realizing a citizen-oriented smart learning innovation city, enhancing performance management and strengthening policy feedback, and expanding as a global learning city.
Additionally, reflecting the input of practitioners, citizens, and expert advisors, the vision for Hanam as a learning city was set as "A city that grows through learning and unfolds the future through innovation." Discussions were held on establishing balanced regional learning infrastructure, creating an inclusive learning environment, and building a platform for collaboration among local industries, academia, and government.
Mayor Lee Hyunjae stated, "Hanam City has solidified its foundation as a lifelong learning city by winning the Korea Lifelong Learning Award in 2022 and joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2024. Going forward, we will systematically implement the lifelong learning action plan to achieve tangible results, strengthen residential appeal, and foster a sense of community around shared local issues, thereby cultivating civic consciousness and building a sustainable learning city where we grow together."
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