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International Conference

Life-Long Learning in the City-Region
Lifelong Learning reaching the regions
that other learning doesn’t reach

Organized by the
The PASCAL Observatory on Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Regions

University of Pécs
7633, Szántó Kovács 1/B.
Pécs, Hungary

Sunday 23 September to Tuesday 25 September 2007

Presentation

The PASCAL Observatory on Place Management, Social Capital and Learning Regions invites contributions to an international conference on the theme of ‘Lifelong Learning in the City-Region’. This fifth international conference to be hosted by PASCAL has developed from a number of research and development projects that have been carried out by partners within the Observatory and which focus on the city and the region as a context for lifelong learning. In our work, like the European Commission, we refer to a region, city, urban or rural area, regardless of whether its identity is defined in administrative, cultural, geographical, physical or political terms. As in the call for proposals within the EC’s R3L programme, our concern is simply the region or city’s capacity to encompass and mobilise the key players for the purpose of developing lifelong learning.

Aim of the conference

The aim of the conference is to review issues which have emerged from research and practice undertaken with a focus on the role of lifelong learning at the regional or city level whether it be with an economic or a social goal. The conference is designed to appeal to researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. On the one hand it invites researchers to examine contemporary research issues empirically, methodologically and theoretically; on the other it invites those whose primary concern is practice and its implementation to share their experiences with us. A number of leading figures from the international research and policy-making communities have been invited to provide an analysis of the issues emerging from research and practice. Papers from a wide range of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners will complement these keynote presentations. We are especially interested in papers that address a ‘community’ perspective. A number of ‘roundtable’ sessions will allow for debate and discussion on particular topics. The conference will provide a forum for critical and analytical perspectives to inform practice, policy and research in these areas. In addition to the conference proceedings, papers will be considered for a proposed book based on the themes of the conference.

Location of the conference

The location for the conference is Pécs in Southern Hungary. The City has a two thousand-year-old history as evidenced by its Roman archeological heritage, has been the Catholic Episcopal seat from the early 11th century, and is the site of the earliest Hungarian university to have been founded in 1364 by the Anjou-king, Louis I (for more on the city of Pécs, go to http://www.pecs.hu/varosnezes). Today, the University of Pécs is one of the largest in the country with 10 faculties, Adult Education and Human Resources Development amongst them (see http://www.pte.hu). Together with the University, the city of Pécs is preparing itself for a series of events and development projects as the European City of Culture 2010. At the same time, preparations are also well-advanced for the city’s Year of Teaching and Learning, also in 2010. This conference is an important element of the preparations for that thematic year on behalf of the University of Pécs.

Conference theme and submission of abstracts

PASCAL is interested in research and evaluation work, applied and theoretical, concerning policy and programmes for sustainable community development, especially involving a ‘whole of government’ (or linked-up) approach.
PASCAL exists to learn, improve and exchange knowledge about ways of planning that succeed in building and supporting social capital and lifelong learning together with sustainable prosperity. The broad themes of the conference relate to a key area of concern for PASCAL, namely the learning city-region. We invite contributions to conference themes from a range of discipline areas and multi-disciplinary contexts including architecture, planning, urban and rural development, education, community learning and social policy. In addition to the conference proceedings, papers will be considered for a proposed book based on the themes of the conference.

We invite contributions to roundtable discussions with the following three themes:

• The role of lifelong learning in the modified Lisbon Strategy of the EU
• Learning regions and local and regional economic development and employability
• The effectiveness of the learning region model in enhancing social cohesion

Within the broad theme of the learning city-region we invite traditional academic papers, policy and practice papers and demonstration projects, which will be grouped into sub-themes as follows:

• Interregional policy development
• Cross border partnerships and collaboration
• Managing networks and partnerships in the lifelong learning region
• The lifelong learning region as a tool for developing active citizenship
• Lifelong learning regions and social partnerships
• The role of ICT in developing social capital at regional level
• Learning needs of regional and municipal authorities and agencies
• Economic benefits and social stability in lifelong learning regions
• Profiting from the knowledge society at regional level
• The lifelong learning region as a complex system
• The academic development of adult education within the regions of the Central-European Association of Universities

Submitting an abstract

The deadline for submitting an abstract is Friday 30 March 2007

We welcome submission of abstracts for individual papers and demonstration projects illustrating good practice, which are focused on one or more of the conference themes. These may include reporting on policy development, innovative practice, research in progress or completed research, methodological issues, theoretical issues or conceptual issues. We particularly welcome papers that have an international comparative dimension.

Abstracts must be sent to:

Prof. Balázs Németh
Faculty of Adult Education and Human Resources Development
University of Pécs
7633, Szántó Kovács 1/B.
Pécs, Hungary
e-mail: PASCAL2007conf@human.pte.hu

Conference brochure

Please check the conference brochure for the provisional programme and further details.

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