The notion of the Learning City has emerged as a fundamental framework for sustainable urban development and lifelong learning. In an era characterised by rapid technological and social changes, cities tend to configure themselves as learning ecosystems where education and training are not confined to classrooms and courses but are disseminated throughout the urban space, involving all stakeholders and citizens. The Learning City takes shape as an extended place – both ancient and new – in which learning is continually transformed and reinvented.
However, despite the growing membership in networks like the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, the rigorous evaluation of the experience and impact of these initiatives remains a crucial challenge. How is the success of a Learning City measured? What are the most effective indicators for assessing citizens’ widespread learning experiences and genuine inclusiveness? What are the difficulties in moving from the articulation of principles to the implementation of coherent policies? And what indicators might define the degree of capability enhancement fostered by a Learning City?
This Issue invites original research contributions that critically address the challenges and opportunities in evaluating the Learning City experience. The goal is to present a diverse landscape of methodological approaches, empirical results, and critical analyses that can inform future policies and practices.
Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Development and validation of evaluation frameworks for Learning Cities.
- Comparative analysis of different Learning City experiences and their measurement systems.
- Participatory methodologies for evaluation that actively engage citizens.
- Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) of Learning City initiatives.
- The use of Big Data and AI in assessing the urban learning experience.
- Studies on the impact of urban learning on social cohesion and employability.
Languages of papers: English, French, Italian, or Spanish.
Timeline
- Full manuscript to be submitted online by February 2026, 2 (any late submission will be considered for the next Call for Papers).
- Publication: March 2026.
Template to be used for the submission available here. Papers submitted in any other format will not be considered for the double blind review.
