Press Release

Muscat Wilayat Represents Oman at the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Academy 2026 in Shanghai

28/09/2026

1. A preparatory programme prior to Shanghai

• An executive team from various sectors leading follow-up and coordination

• Muscat’s urban health experience showcased on the international platform

• An impact extending beyond the Academy

       Muscat Governorate, represented by the Muscat Wilayat Learning Cities Team, is contributing in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) Global Academy 2026, organised by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning in cooperation with Shanghai Open University, with the involvement of representatives from learning cities from around the world.

      The official list of participating cities confirms the participation of 32 cities from countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, including Shanghai, Beijing, Turin, Dresden, Athens, Edmonton, Medell?n, Nairobi, Ankara and Abuja.

From Network Membership to Global Participation

     Muscat Wilayat’s participation in the Academy builds on its journey within the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities since joining the Network in February 2024, alongside the cities of Sur and Nizwa. This step strengthened the Sultanate of Oman’s presence within the global learning cities network. Muscat’s engagement in the Network’s Global Academy, and its selection among the participating cities in the 2026 edition, represents an advanced stage in its membership journey and reflects the efforts and initiatives undertaken in the field of lifelong learning. It also provides an opportunity to move from membership to a more effective stage of exchanging expertise, displaying local experiences and benefiting from international practices in the fields of sustainable urban development and planning, health and quality of life, digital transformation, sustainability and reinforcing community contribution.

     The involvement is particularly significant given Muscat’s position as an important hub for economic and commercial activity. Furthermore, its rich historical heritage and its role, which has evolved over the centuries from an important port and maritime station along the Indian Ocean trade routes into a modern capital that combines its historical heritage with the requirements of contemporary urban development.

A Training Journey Extending from September to Beyond Shanghai

     Muscat’s involvement in the Academy began before its arrival in Shanghai through an integrated preparatory and training programme combining electronic learning, practical application and the exchange of experiences among participating cities, culminating in an in-person programme in Shanghai, China, followed by preparing work plans and their implementation and monitoring during subsequent stages. Throughout September, representatives of the Muscat Wilayat Learning Cities Team, alongside participants from other cities, took part in the online phase of the Academy, which included a series of interactive sessions, lectures, activities and practical assignments. During its first week, from 7 to 11 September, the Academy programme focused on introducing the Academy and the foundations for creating and advancing learning cities, lifelong learning in ageing societies, plus artificial intelligence laboratories and human-centred digital transformation.

        The programme continued during its second week, from 14 to 18 September, with sessions addressing education for sustainable development and climate action, and transforming urban health through lifelong learning. The current week focuses on communication and advocacy for lifelong learning and advancing strategic action plans for cities, in preparation for the transition to the in-person phase.

       These stages will culminate in the Muscat Team’s contribution in the Academy’s in-person programme in Shanghai in October, when participants will move from online training to direct interaction and exchanging experiences and practices among cities. The programme will also comprise sessions, workshops and field visits, besides opportunities to display the experiences of joining cities and advance practical action plans that can be utilised after the programme concludes.

      Throughout these stages, engaging city representatives has extended beyond attending lectures to consist of discussions and sharing experiences, collaborative work, achieving assignments and practical activities, and linking programme themes to the local challenges and priorities of each city. This will culminate in advancing an applied strategic action plan tailored to the city’s context. The Academy framework requires participants to engage effectively in both online and in-person sessions, contribute to city-level outputs, and follow up on implementing plans after the programme concludes.

A Representative Delegation and an Integrated System Supporting Muscat as a Learning City

      The City of Muscat is participating in the Academy through a multi-sectoral team comprising four representatives from various entities and sectors, involving Muscat Governorate, Muscat Municipality, the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the health sector, moreover representation of the local community in Muscat Wilayat. This reflects the learning cities approach, which is based on integrated roles, sharing expertise and partnerships among different sectors.

       The participation is supported by the collaborative institutional work of the Muscat Learning City Team, which brings together representatives and expertise from numerous government, academic and societal sectors, including health, the environment, education, culture, tourism, social development, museums, scientific research and civil society.

      An executive team responsible for following up on events and assignments and documenting them, as well as coordinating roles and responsibilities among the relevant entities also supports the participants. This approach aims to strengthen the governance of Muscat’s work as a learning city, unify efforts, coordinate initiatives, and collect and manage data and information. Thereby it boosts the work sustainability, utilises the outcomes of international participation, and translate them into locally applicable initiatives and plans.

Muscat Highlights its Urban Health Experience

     One of the key highlights of Muscat’s participation in Shanghai is its selection to deliver a presentation during a session entitled “Transforming Urban Health through Lifelong Learning”, scheduled to take place on 14 October 2026, alongside several international cities participating in this thematic area. During the session, the Muscat Team will showcase the local experience in urban health and its relationship with lifelong learning via highlighting numerous experiences, practices and initiatives associated with Muscat Wilayat and relevant entities. These initiatives contribute to raising health awareness, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and making use of urban facilities and spaces that support physical activity and quality of life. The presentation will highlight the role of integration between the health, municipal and societal sectors to support creating a healthier and more sustainable city.

     Urban health is one of the Academy’s key thematic areas. It has been developed in cooperation with the World Health Organisation Academy and focuses on integrating lifelong learning into health policies and practices, reinforcing health literacy, using evidence in urban planning, and encouraging healthy lifestyles through inclusive community learning systems.

     During the electronic phase, participants had already addressed this topic in a specialised session on transforming urban health through lifelong learning. This session reviewed the relationship between the urban environment and population health, health literacy, the social determinants of health, and the role of cities in prevention, community resilience, and providing more consistent access to health information and services.

From Online Learning to the In-Person Experience in Shanghai

   Alongside showcasing Muscat’s experience in urban health, the in-person programme will provide greater opportunities for direct interaction with participating cities and experts, as well as learning about international experiences and exchanging practices and expertise across various areas of learning cities. Taking place in Shanghai from 11 to 18 October 2026, the programme will include interactive sessions featuring experts, presentations delivered by participating cities, workshops to share knowledge and practices, field visits and artificial intelligence laboratories, in addition to networking and partnership-building activities among learning cities. City representatives will participate in the International Conference on Lifelong Learning 2026, held under the theme “Digital Lifelong Learning: Smart, Innovative, Inclusive”, as well as the Lifelong Learning Exhibition. These events will offer an opportunity to explore a diverse range of international experiences and expand areas of cooperation and knowledge exchange among participating cities and institutions.

Continuous Learning and Capability Building

     The Academy will provide participants with chances to engage with experts from UNESCO and the United Nations, academia, policymakers and learning city practitioners, while exchanging experiences and knowledge with more than 100 representatives of learning cities from around the world.

Participants will work within city teams to discuss their local priorities and challenges and form their capacity to progress strategic action plans that respond to the needs of each city. The programme’s impact will extend beyond the in-person participation in Shanghai through the accomplishment of strategic action plans and regular support and follow-up sessions during 2027, aimed at monitoring progress in implementing the plans and exchanging experiences and outcomes among participating cities. This makes the Academy an ongoing pathway for learning and capacity building rather than a programme that concludes with the end of the in-person participation.

       Muscat’s participation represents a chance to take local experiences and practices to the international level, while benefiting in return from the expertise of participating cities and aligning it with Muscat’s priorities in urban health, quality of life, sustainability, digital transformation, community engagement and lifelong learning. This participation is also expected to translate the knowledge and experience gained by the team throughout the Academy’s various stages into locally applicable outputs through the development of a strategic action plan that strengthens the concept of a learning city and promotes integration among government institutions, health, education and community sectors, and other relevant entities.

        Muscat’s participation in the Academy represents a new milestone in its journey within the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and a chance to strengthen the presence of the Omani experience on platforms for knowledge, intellectuality and expertise exchange among cities. The participation opens broader prospects for benefiting from international experiences and developing partnerships in ways that serve local priorities. This comes as part of Muscat’s continued efforts to activate its membership in the Network and consolidate the concept of lifelong learning as one of the enablers supporting sustainable progress and quality of life.