Press Release

       Muscat Wilayat, represented by the Muscat Learning City Team, is participating in the activities of the 2026 UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Academy, hosted by the city of Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China from 12 to 17 October. The event brings together more than 32 cities from around the world, with Muscat Wilayat being the only Arab city participating in this edition of the Academy.

      The involvement forms part of the Wilayat’s efforts to strengthen its presence within the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, exchange international expertise and experiences in utilising lifelong learning to address urban challenges, and develop initiatives that support health, quality of life and sustainable development.

       As part of the Academy’s programme, Muscat Wilayat presented its experience in reinforcing urban health through lifelong learning in a working paper entitled “Transforming Urban Health through Lifelong Learning”, delivered by Dr Thuraya bint Jumaa Al Ghailani, Director of the First Health Cluster Department at the Directorate General of Health Services in Muscat Governorate. The paper addressed the Wilayat’s approach to linking learning with health and quality of life, besides, the role of health education in enabling the community members to acquire knowledge and skills that promote healthy behaviours.

       Dr Thuraya bint Jumaa Al Ghailani emphasised that Muscat Wilayat’s engagement in the Academy represents an opportunity to highlight its efforts to integrate continuous learning into health and community practices, benefit from international experiences in advancing local initiatives, and expand partnerships among relevant sectors.

       She explained that the health sector is one of the key fields for applying the concept of learning cities, as lifelong learning enables individuals to understand their health needs, make informed decisions, and acquire the skills required to prevent and manage diseases. She noted that this concept boosts the role of health institutions as supportive learning environments that work in integration with educational institutions, associations and community facilities. Thus making health knowledge an ongoing practice throughout different stages of life.

       She noted that the paper highlighted several priorities adopted by Muscat Wilayat in this area, including promoting health education, encouraging early disease detection, supporting mental health, and training volunteers and teachers to serve as health ambassadors within their communities. These efforts comprise fostering partnerships among health and educational institutions, government entities and civil society organisations.

        She also indicated the importance of using digital tools to disseminate health knowledge and facilitate access to services, while taking into account the needs of different society’s groups, particularly older persons and persons with disabilities. This would ensure that health initiatives are inclusive and accessible to their intended beneficiaries.

      Regarding the significance of participating in the Academy’s programme, she stressed that the participation provides an opportunity to learn about international experiences and practices in utilising learning to solve health and community challenges, as well as to explore approaches to creating partnerships, designing programmes and measuring their impact. This can help cities enhance their practices and adapt successful experiences to meet their communities’ needs.

       She added that the benefits of the Academy’s outcomes extend beyond knowledge exchange to translating them into actionable plans and programmes for learning cities in Oman, strengthening cooperation among the health, education, cultural and community sectors. Thereby making more effective use of existing resources and initiatives, and linking learning opportunities with development priorities and the needs of the population.

      She expressed her hope that the involvement would contribute to developing an action plan for Muscat Wilayat, building on its existing institutions, expertise and initiatives. Furthermore, expanding community participation and learning opportunities and enhancing the measurement of programmes’ impact on health-related knowledge, skills and behaviours, thereby contributing positively to community health and quality of life.

      The Academy’s programme includes a series of interactive sessions, specialised workshops and field visits covering the progress of learning cities, urban health, education for sustainable development and climate action, as well as digital transformation and artificial intelligence, with the participation of experts, specialists and representatives from participating cities.

        Muscat Wilayat’s involvement is a continuation of its engagement with the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, which it joined in February 2024 alongside the cities of Sur and Nizwa. This further strengthens the Sultanate of Oman’s presence in the international network and supports efforts to reinforce a culture of lifelong learning and develop urban environments that encourage learning, innovation and community participation, in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Objectives.