The Southern Regional Assembly has welcomed the official designation of Waterford as a UNESCO Learning City, announced at a launch event held in the Garden Room of the Medieval Museum in Waterford City.
David Kelly, Director of the Southern Regional Assembly, said,
‘’I warmly welcome Waterford’s designation as a UNESCO Learning City. Waterford now joins Limerick and Cork as the third UNESCO Learning City in the Region and is a significant milestone towards our strategic vision for the Southern Region to become a UNESCO Learning Region. This is an important achievement for Waterford and the wider region which underscores the commitment set out in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) to supporting lifelong learning opportunities, regional resilience and sustainable growth’’
Cllr. Andrew McGuinness, Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, attended the launch event and also welcomed the designation of Waterford as a UNESCO Learning City, stating,
‘’Waterford’s designation as a UNESCO Learning City is a proud moment for our region, which will promote access to education and learning opportunities. I wish to acknowledge the collaborative work of all involved including both local authorities, Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council, SETU, Waterford and Wexford ETB, Buíon, Waterford Chamber and our own team in the Southern Regional Assembly’’.
Waterford is now recognised as a city of learning and innovation, which is significant with SETU firmly established. The achievement is built upon the strong stakeholder commitment and political support for the Initiative. The designation is strongly supported by regional policy on lifelong learning and education and advances the ambition set out in the Southern Regional Assembly’s Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan for Waterford to be ‘a dynamic, concentric, modern European city of scale and significance, a UNESCO Learning City, driving national and regional growth, prosperity, innovation and creativity which is supported by focused investment in transformational rejuvenation across the Metropolitan Area, a vibrant and diverse University City with a high quality of life for all through a high standard of physical and community infrastructure and housing options, education, amenities and opportunities for employment.
