UNESCO recognizes Lisbon as a City of Learning

Membership was validated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, following the implementation of the Lisbon City of Learning program, coordinated by Lisbon City Council (CML).

The initiative connects more than 120 entities, including universities, companies, museums, associations and the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training, through a digital platform that maps training opportunities and certifies skills acquired in formal and non-formal contexts.

According to UNESCO, Lisbon stands out for its commitment to mobilizing resources from different sectors to promote inclusive learning, covering areas such as digital literacy for seniors and technological innovation for young people.

The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, said that "this distinction belongs to the city. It is recognition of the daily work of CML and more than 120 partners who have transformed Lisbon into an open-air classroom".

The innovative digital certification model, he said, "has proved that it is possible to value talent and recognize skills, wherever they are found".

The portal allows access to more than 1,200 learning opportunities, and to digital micro-credentials that certify skills and strengthen the personal and professional curriculum (open badges). By the time the application was submitted to UNESCO, more than 7,600 users had registered, and around 3,200open badges had been issued.

The data in the validated dossier also shows that the Digital Inclusion and Literacy Program involved 3,500 participants between 2017 and 2024, 66.4% of whom were women.

By 2030, the municipality aims to reach 20,000 active users and issue 15,000 micro-credentials, with a focus on digital and green skills.