Ningbo has been selected to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), marking a significant milestone in the city's lifelong learning and cultural development.

This year, Ningbo joins Tianjin and Shenyang as Chinese cities included in the GNLC, a global platform established by UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) to foster policy dialogue, experience sharing, and collaborative practice among member cities. The network aims to strengthen cities' lifelong learning capacity and promote sustainable community development.

Ningbo, a city with a long history and rich cultural heritage, is recognized for its strong academic tradition, vibrant civic life, and open, inclusive culture that values learning and innovation. It has earned the "National Civilized City" title seven consecutive times and is celebrated as a "hometown of academicians".

Ningbo first joined China's National Learning Cities Network in 2023. Joining the GNLC allows the city to further leverage its historical and educational strengths, enhance organizational networks, align with international standards, and draw on global best practices. Ningbo aims to become a high-level, internationally recognized learning city, advancing high-quality lifelong education and building a more sustainable, knowledge-driven community for all residents.