Muscat Governorate is set to participate in the 2026 UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Academy, scheduled to take place in Shanghai from October 11 to 18. Represented by the Muscat Learning City Team, the governorate will join representatives from 32 cities across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, including Shanghai, Beijing, Turin, Dresden, Athens, Edmonton, Medellin, Nairobi, Ankara, and Abuja.
Muscat, which became a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in February 2024 along with Sur and Nizwa, views its selection for the academy as an important milestone to further its engagement within the network. The event offers a platform for exchanging expertise and showcasing local initiatives related to lifelong learning, sustainable urban development, urban health, digital transformation, and community engagement.
The academy’s program combines online sessions, practical exercises, and experience-sharing, culminating in an in-person series of activities in Shanghai. Participants will attend interactive workshops, field visits, and artificial intelligence labs, as well as engage in networking events and partnership-building activities. The academy will also feature the 2026 International Conference on Digital Lifelong Learning, under the theme “Smart, Innovative, and Inclusive,” along with a Lifelong Learning Exhibition.
A central focus for the Muscat delegation will be their presentation on October 14 titled “Transforming Urban Health through Lifelong Learning.” This session will detail local efforts to integrate urban health initiatives with lifelong learning strategies, emphasizing programs aimed at increasing health awareness, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging physical activity, and improving quality of life.
The presentation will also underline the collaboration between Muscat’s health sector, municipal authorities, and community groups in developing a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. The academy’s Urban Health Hub, developed in partnership with the World Health Organization Academy, highlights the importance of embedding lifelong learning within health policies and practices, strengthening health literacy, applying evidence-based approaches in urban planning, and fostering healthy habits through community learning frameworks.
Muscat’s delegation comprises a four-member team drawn from multiple sectors, including the Muscat Governorate, Muscat Municipality, the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the health sector, alongside local community representatives. The city’s involvement in the academy reflects its commitment to leveraging lifelong learning as a tool for sustainable urban development and public health improvement.