On 25 August 2025, at Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Thailand Science Research and Innovation – Area-Based Development Management Unit (PMU-A), the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand, and UNESCO Bangkok jointly organized the seminar “Learning, Sharing, and Networking for the UNESCO GNLC and UCCN Membership.” The event was supported by UNESCO under the Participation Programme 2024–2025.
Ms. Marina Patrier, Deputy Director and Head of Education, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
The seminar aimed to strengthen understanding of the criteria and application requirements for joining UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). It also served as a platform for knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices from Thai cities that are already members of these global networks. Currently, Thailand has 10 cities in the GNLC and 7 cities in the UCCN, which presented their experiences to inspire and guide other cities interested in applying for membership.
Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Managing Director, Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand
Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Managing Director, Equitable Education Fund (EEF) Thailand, emphasized that Learning Cities are a key mechanism for advancing Thailand’s national agenda, contributing to the SDGs (1, 4, 8, 10, and 17) and addressing intergenerational poverty under the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan. By mobilizing the power of communities, Learning Cities help expand opportunities for children and youth to learn and reach their full potential.
He noted that Thailand still has around 880,000 out-of-school children, though reduced from 1.02 million in the past two years, while only 13% of disadvantaged youth access higher education. This highlights the urgent need for diverse learning and career pathways. He concluded that achieving “Education for All” requires collective action from all sectors, with Learning Cities playing a vital role in driving this change.
The event further promoted networking and collaboration among cities, government agencies, experts, and stakeholders, helping potential applicant cities prepare their membership proposals in a systematic and sustainable manner.
The seminar brought together more than 200 participants, including representatives from ASEAN+8 embassies, Thai member cities from the GNLC and UCCN networks, as well as representatives from government agencies, private sector organizations, academic institutions, and youth groups. This gathering marks an important step in strengthening Thailand’s capacity to participate actively in UNESCO’s global city networks and reaffirms the country’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the international level. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to building a resilient and sustainable learning society for the future.
