Durham

Durham’s designation as a Learning City builds on the longstanding World Heritage Site designation and recognises Durham’s outstanding commitment to making the right to education, learning and skills development a reality for everyone of all ages, both inside and outside the classroom.

Durham Learning City’s Vision is to build social capital and a culture of lifelong learning through cultural engagement, community outreach, post-16 pathways, enterprise and executive education. In the medium term, it aims to improve access to culture and enrichment, and grow digital, entrepreneurial and green skills. Long-term goals include raising higher-level skills and helping people excel in education, business and careers, in line with the Inclusive Economic Strategy 2022–2035.

Durham will share knowledge, skills, and create opportunities for exchange with other Learning Cities globally. The Learning City aims to bring partners together to revitalise learning in families and communities, facilitate workplace learning, and extend the use of digital technologies to enhance education. Work will focus on three areas: sustainability and health, equity and inclusion, and supporting decent (fair) work and entrepreneurship.