Resources
Explore a wide range of valuable resources on GCED to deepen your understanding and enhance your research, advocacy, teaching, and learning.
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CONFINTEA VII Marrakech Framework for Action: Harnessing the Transformational Power of Adult Learning and Education Year of publication: 2022 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) This Marrakech Framework for Action is an outcome of the the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) held in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, and online, from 15 to 17 June 2022. 
CONFINTEA VII Seventh International Conference on Adult Education: Final Report; Adult learning and Education for Sustainable Development; A Transformative Agenda Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) The International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) is a UNESCO intergovernmental conference for policy dialogue on adult learning and education (ALE) and related research and advocacy, which has taken place every 12 to 13 years since 1949. This is a final report of the Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) held in Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, and online, from 15 to 17 June 2022. 
International Trends of Lifelong Learning in Higher Education: Research Report Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) | Shanghai Open University Against the background of a global education crisis and a growing recognition of the importance of lifelong learning, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the Shanghai Open University (SOU) conducted a comprehensive research project from 2020 to 2022 that included, among other components, an international survey on the contribution of higher education institutions to lifelong learning, the results of which are presented in this report. Based on the comprehensive sets of quantitative and qualitative data collected across all world regions, this research constitutes a major step forward in building an international knowledge base on the role of HEIs in establishing lifelong learning opportunities for all. 
Institutional practices of implementing lifelong learning in higher education: research report Year of publication: 2023 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) | Shanghai Open University In many countries, higher education is gaining prominence as a means for the general population to engage in lifelong learning (LLL), whether for personal or professional development, or to participate in broader societal change. In some cases, national governments have introduced policies or funding instruments that create incentives for higher education institutions (HEIs) to align their offerings more closely with changing labour market demands and societal needs, and to expand access for groups previously underrepresented in higher education. Key trends in the higher education sector and the associated global socio-economic transformations were discussed in detail in the international survey report, which was published as part of the research project on the contribution of higher education institutions to LLL (UIL and SOU, 2023). This case study report moves from an international overview of the policies, structures and mechanisms that support LLL in higher education to the close study of institutional practices. It explores the interrelations between national policy environments and institutional strategies. It examines different approaches taken by universities to develop, implement and monitor LLL activities, and further provides practical examples of how universities engage with diverse groups of learners through their LLL mission. As such, this report’s value lies in offering both general insights into the implementation of LLL in HEIs, and case-specific descriptions and analyses of institutional policies and practices. 
Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL): Strategy 2020–2025 Year of publication: 2020 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) This strategy presents GAL’s vision, mission, goals and objectives for the period from 2020 to 2025. It builds upon GAL’s achievements from 2016 and 2019, and upon UNESCO’s previous initiatives supporting youth and adult literacy, including the UN Literacy Decade (2003–2012), Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) from 2006 to 2015, and the 2015 Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (RALE). 
Think Tank Report: Empowering Communities through Citizenship Education and Lifelong Learning Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) This short, explorator y repor t from the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) is the outcome of ‘Placing citizenship education within a lifelong learning perspective: From research to action’, a think tank meeting held in Hamburg in 2023. The meeting brought together experts from international organizations and academia and was organized by UIL in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding. The report reflects the inputs of participants while also drawing on the proposals of the International Commission on the Futures of Education (ICFE, 2021); the findings of the Fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 5) (UIL, 2022a); the Marrakech Framework for Action (UIL, 2022b); and the outcomes of the United Nations Transforming Education Summit of September 2022 (UN, 2023a; UN 2023b); as well as UNESCO’s Revised Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace (UNESCO, 2023). It makes a case for putting citizenship education, interpreted not as a means of reproducing the status quo but as a catalyst for civic and social empowerment, at the heart of efforts to create more equitable, tolerant and just societies for all. It argues that citizenship, so construed, should be woven into the fabric of education, throughout and across the life course, recognizing its role in narrowing social and economic inequalities, overcoming social fragmentation, addressing the climate crisis and tackling the backlash against human rights and gender equality. This report calls for citizenship education and lifelong learning to be core pillars of a systems-level transformation in education, and provides recommendations for policy-makers, national and local governments, educators and civil society organizations to make citizenship education a priority in their policies and practices. 
Greening Communities Guidance: Lifelong Learning for Climate and Sustainability Action Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) | World Organization of the Scout Movement Climate change poses a serious threat to communities around the world, compelling us to protect vulnerable lives and shape resilient futures. By nurturing lifelong learning and empowering local initiatives, communities can drive transformative change – amplifying local efforts into global impact.Green communities are municipalities of any size that embrace lifelong learning to empower individuals to take meaningful climate and sustainability action. This is achieved by extending climate education beyond the classroom and offering learning opportunities in non-formal and informal settings – rooted in and responsive to local culture and context. By engaging learners of all ages across a variety of learning environments, residents of green communities are equipped to take informed, proactive and responsible action for the climate and environment, contributing to more sustainable living.The sections of this document provide an overview of the diverse learners, learning spaces and educational approaches that can contribute to greening communities. It outlines practical steps for developing a comprehensive green learning strategy and action plan that mobilizes learners of all generations in climate and sustainability efforts.Municipal governments, along with a wide range of local stakeholders and change agents in both urban and rural areas, are invited to use this guidance to foster green communities through a lifelong learning lens.Together, let’s green our communities! 
Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults; Research Report Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) | Shanghai Open University (SOU) | Institute for the Future of Education This research report, Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults, explores how organizations across diverse national and regional contexts are supporting digital learning opportunities for older adults. Through six case studies from across five UNESCO regions, it presents a rich array of practices and strategies adopted by independently funded non-profit organizations, community learning centres operating under the auspices of national and local governments, foundations and adult education institutions drawing on a combination of private and public funding sources while maintaining links with universities, and other stakeholders working to close the digital gap for older learners. These examples demonstrate that with the right support structures and pedagogical methods – such as tailored learning programmes, age-friendly technology environments, and intergenerational collaboration – older adults can, and do, engage meaningfully with digital technologies.. 
Advancing Intergenerational Learning: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities for Older Adults; Integrated Case Study Report Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) | Shanghai Open University (SOU) This research report presents case studies from the UNESCO regions Europe and North America, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, showcasing various strategies for designing intergenerational learning initiatives. It highlights the diverse policy frameworks and implementation contexts within which these global programmes operate.Using an exploratory multiple case study approach, the report examines the dynamics and potential of intergenerational learning as a catalyst for cultivating a culture of lifelong learning. It assesses the value of such learning in promoting age-friendly environments and addressing ageism. Additionally, the report offers insights into generational learning motivations and identifies barriers to effective intergenerational programming.Finally, the report provides a set of evidence-based guidelines to inform and enhance future efforts in intergenerational learning. The findings and recommendations serve as a valuable resource for educators, policy-makers, and community leaders.These case studies were developed as part of the broader UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning research project, Higher Education Institutions – Responses to the Learning Needs of Ageing Societies. 
Annual Report 2018 : UNESCO INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) UIL’s 2018 Annual Report shows how, last year, our work contributed to fulfilling our mission to support better policy-making and strengthen the capacities of UNESCO Member States in the field of lifelong learning. UIL’s vision is for all children, youth and adults to benefit from quality lifelong learning, within the framework of sustainable development and peace, and we pursue it in the context of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on quality education and lifelong learning. Its publications are a valuable resource for education researchers, planners, policy-makers and practitioners.