Last week, as a long-standing partner, we participated in the international meeting of “Cities, Regions and Islands of Learning” in Eindhoven (NL ). The event took place from November 26 to 28, 2024, and brought together 50 international participants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean to discuss digital learning ecosystems and innovative recognition systems.

“Cities, Regions and Islands of Learning” is an informal network of over 35 organizations operating in more than 40 locations across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. The network is dedicated to making learning processes open, accessible, and inclusive for everyone, particularly young people in these regions. Using an online platform and digital Open Badges, the initiative creates learning ecosystems and unique recognition systems, especially for non-formal education programs.

During the meeting, participants discussed the network's current developments, explored perspectives for further collaboration, and addressed the potential advancement of the digital recognition system “OpenBadges.” A key objective of the event was to enhance the system’s acceptance and promote collaboration on a global scale.

The meeting was organized as part of the strategic partnership “Connected Spaces of Learning in Europe” with co-funding from the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.

As a long-term partner in this international context, we are delighted to continue expanding our collaboration within the network and strengthening the digital recognition of learning achievements through OpenBadges. The meeting in Eindhoven was a significant step towards enhancing inclusive and recognized learning settings on a global level. We look forward to an exciting future of international cooperation and digital education in this field.