Forum explores promotion of sustainable development through community education

Global education experts and scholars gathered on Thursday at East China Normal University for the 13th Shanghai Forum on Lifelong Education, exploring ways to promote sustainable development through community education and lifelong learning.

Over 200 representatives from both home and abroad attended the forum, including those from UNESCO, China, the United States, Poland, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

With reports, academic salons, and case studies, participants comprehensively showcased their latest research results and innovative models in sustainable community education.

Meng Zhongjie, deputy Party secretary of the East China Normal University and president of Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education, highlighted international collaboration in lifelong education. He pointed out that, facing new global challenges in sustainable development, the university sticks to the core principles of transdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and intelligent education, continuously driving innovation and growth in lifelong education.

Yan Lu, Party secretary of the university's Faculty of Education, added that in response to the new wave of technological revolution and global challenges, the university will actively develop a Shanghai-style education model for sustainable development. Such efforts aim to facilitate the mutual exchange of international expertise and local practices, contributing Chinese wisdom and Shanghai experience to the global community.

During the forum, "Shanghai Consensus: International Open Alliance for Research and Cooperation on Learning Cities" was released. Also, the BRICS+ Joint Laboratory on Climate Change Education, which is jointly initiated by the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education, Naresuan University in Thailand, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, was announced to be ready for construction.