UniGrowCity

Experience-based learning for a more sustainable city of the future

The educational partnership “UniGrowCity” is a project initiated by six organizations from six different countries (Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, UK). The rationale behind the project is as follows: More than 60 million European citizens live in cities. At the same time, the environmental impact of a modern city is a cause of great concern. Making city life more sustainable is a fundamental challenge for modern Europe. In order to tackle this challenge, we need to develop innovative and creative methods of learning which expand upon those used in our educational systems. We need to offer citizens (i.e. adult learners from any social class) places for social exchange and life-long learning.

“UniGrowCity” considers how learning about sustainable development can be made accessible to citizens in an urban environment. The participating organizations combine informal and creative educational outreach measures on this topic, particularly appealing to adult citizens and local communities. Green urban development, community building and participation activities are just a few examples of the important areas within which work is carried out.
Our approach is driven by “moving processes of learning into the field”. All of us, including people from non-academic or marginalized backgrounds, must be considered and integrated into society if sustainable and social urban development is to be promoted. In the framework of the educational partnership, the involved organizations exchange methods and knowhow with a specific focus on the transfer of methods and knowledge on a European level.

nextlearning developed and coordinated the learning partnership in collaboration with Prinzessinnengärten Berlin.

UniGrowCity
Partners: Academy of Contemporary Art in Tromsø (NO), GAIA (PT), Nomadisch Grün (D), Pari Center for New Learning (IT), The New Beauty Council (SE), City Mine(d) (GB)
Format: Workshops and conferences
Period: August 2011 to September 2013

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