Dr May Lim, Associate Professor and Assistant Provost for Applied Learning at the Singapore Institute of Technology, is currently a visiting researcher at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL). Here, she shares her reflections on the 2025 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival, highlighting how the experience broadened her perspective on what learning can look like across communities and contexts.
© May Lim
Having heard so much about the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival, I was eager to explore its diverse programme. I was impressed by the extensive range of activities and the strong spirit of collaboration it showcased. From a bat walk led by an ecologist to career workshops focused on employability, the city appeared to truly embody UNESCO’s definition of lifelong learning. As someone who has often associated learning mainly with acquiring knowledge and skills for education and work, my experience in Cork challenged this narrow view in a positive way.
Learning in the neighbourhood
A Learning Neighbourhood is a community that promotes inclusive and diverse learning opportunities through partnership and collaboration. In newly formed Mahon Learning Neighbourhood, I witnessed the joy of learning among children and older adults alike. Activities ranged from singing and robotics to vocational education and training programmes for individuals with autism.
Grassroots efforts in these neighbourhoods bring people together, making learning accessible and enjoyable for everyone. This experience prompted me to reflect on the intergenerational potential of learning – not only for knowledge transfer but also for instilling values and fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Learning with employers
The Cork Access Network, true to its tagline ‘leaving no one behind’, hosted a networking event where employers such as Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson shared their work with universities to improve access and widen participation. For example, Pfizer collaborates with University College Cork’s Disability Support Services on inclusive recruitment and training, helping students with disabilities secure internships.
They also shared approaches to disability inclusion in recruitment and workplace practices. I found this to be a compelling example of how universities and industries can collaborate not only to address skills gaps, but also to advance diversity and inclusion in a practical and meaningful way. By embracing common values and addressing social justice, these institutions demonstrate a commitment to fostering environments where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
Learning in various city locations
Across Cork, learning events took place in diverse spaces throughout the city. The public library hosted multiple events and exhibitions featuring photography and pencil drawings, while the trade union conducted sessions on understanding workers’ rights.
One of my favourite visits was to Nago Nagle Place, a community hub which fosters a warm and supportive atmosphere for vulnerable individuals on their learning journeys. I saw a fabric book on display as part of the Dillons Cross Project/Lantern exhibition, Honouring Our Creative Journeys, and witnessed the art of storytelling from individuals who had recently developed this skill. As an educator with a background in occupational therapy, it was enlightening to see how healing and learning can intersect in such spaces.
Learning in unexpected places
The most eye-opening experience of the festival for me took place in Cork Prison. Through the ‘Inside-Out’ prison-university programme run by University College Cork, I observed students from the Cork Education and Training Board Prison Education Unit (inside students) presenting their work alongside Criminology BA students from the university (outside students).
They learned together as classmates over the course of a semester, earning micro-credential credits while exploring topics such as stigma, labelling, the pains of incarceration, and social control. I was struck by how such transformative experiences can give incarcerated learners new aspirations for life after prison. At the same time, university students came to see the prisoners not just as subjects of study, but as peers with whom they learn side by side.
Learning from across the world
The Cork Festival Learning City Seminar provided a platform for sharing inspiring and transferable examples from learning cities around the world. Contributions came from the Netherlands, the UK, France, the USA and Singapore, all with the shared goal of bringing learning to life in diverse contexts.
The new UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) Medium-Term Strategy for 2025–2030 will guide these efforts, enhancing the network’s impact and accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This will include the expansion of the GNLC Academy, which aims to help cities strengthen their capacities. Cork, a longstanding member of the GNLC, is actively involved in these efforts.
Success factors as a learning city
Cork is the only city to have twice received the UNESCO Learning City Award, a recognition that reflects several key strengths. The city fosters a culture of learning across sectors, supported by a combination of grassroots engagement and strong leadership from local authorities. This collective commitment makes learning accessible and meaningful to all.
What did I take home from this experience? My previously narrow view of learning has expanded into a richer understanding of the diverse ways – and places – learning can take place. I now see opportunities to share this journey and encourage others to embrace the joy of learning beyond simply fulfilling an agenda.