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The Learning Planet Institute
Who are your current partners?
The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation is our founding sponsor.
The City of Paris and UNESCO are our two major historical partners.
Université Paris Cité, CY Cergy Paris Université, Inserm and Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres), are our academic and research partners with whom we develop our teaching and research programs.
Our financial partners, both private and public, enable us to finance our high-impact projects.
Our institutional partners enable us to have an impact on a much larger scale.
And our project partners enable us to work alongside them on concrete, ambitious projects.
What is your governance system?
Our governance structure is divided into six main bodies
- An Executive Committee
- An Executive Committee
- HR Committee
- A Monitoring Committee
- A Board of Directors
- Scientific Advisory Board
How do you operate?
- Learning through research - We question the world and design original methods based on scientific approaches.
- Developing unique communities - We create physical and digital spaces that encourage encounters and co-construction.
- Experiment and share - We prototype and learn from our successes and failures.
- Thinking outside the box - We dream and think creatively about our projects, methods and tools.
- Redefining the rules of the game in a sustainable way - We implement practices that can accelerate large-scale transitions.
- Using digital innovation to spread - We use technology to explore and share knowledge on an unprecedented scale.
What are your values?
- Promoting interdisciplinarity - We cultivate critical thinking and exchange between fields of knowledge.
- Use collective intelligence - We facilitate peer learning, creativity and cooperation.
- Caring for ourselves, each other and the planet - We infuse caring, consideration and respect for people and the environment into the life of our community.
- Welcoming diversity - Celebrating the richness of our multicultural and inclusive community
- Cultivating enthusiasm and optimism - We believe in the virtues of positive thinking as a lever for hope and success.
- (Self) Empowerment - We encourage our communities to think freely and take initiative.
What are your links with the United Nations?
The United Nations University and the Institute are working closely together on the «United Nations University Hub on the Future of Learning with Youth in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)» project. This UNU Hub, the 1st in France, focuses on creating transformative learning experiences that inspire and enable young people to shape global peace. It aims to empower learners to become global citizens.
Read moreThe Learning Planet Institute is also a Category II Institute (C2C) under the auspices of UNESCO in France. This designation is an exceptional recognition of the Institute and its two decades of educational innovation, excellence and commitment to transforming education worldwide.
Read moreWhat's your raison d'être?
The Learning Planet Institute is a player in the world of academia and social entrepreneurship. Founded on interdisciplinarity, the Institute combines research, pedagogy and technology to help individuals, groups and organizations build a learning society for a more sustainable world.
We are convinced that youth, lifelong learning and collective intelligence are the best levers for change in our societies.
What's your ambition?
Co-creating a learning society to meet the challenges of our time.
Where are you from?
In response to crises (social, environmental, economic), researchers François Taddei and Ariel Lindner launched the Centre de Recherches Interdisciplinaires (CRI) in 2006, with the mission of training the next generation of scientists working at the interface of life sciences, learning and digital technology. Their conviction? A new and unique approach to teaching through research is both necessary and possible.
CRI then underwent a phase of exponential growth. It has grown from a handful of people to an internationally renowned institute and a global community with several hundred partners on every continent.
At the end of 2021, in order to increase its impact and meet the ever-increasing demands of public and private players, the CRI will transform itself and become the Learning Planet Institute. Its renewed ambition? To co-create a learning society capable of meeting the complex current and future challenges we face.
Who are you? What do you do?
Since 2006, the Learning Planet Institute has been using collective intelligence to reinvent learning at all stages of life, with the aim of building sustainable, inclusive learning societies capable of meeting the complex challenges we face.
The Institute's mission is to explore, experiment and share new ways of learning and cooperating to meet the needs of young people and the planet. It promotes and disseminates a culture, methods and tools of empowerment to transform organizations. Finally, it leads communities and accompanies «Learning Planetizens», citizens of the planet who learn to take care of themselves, others and the planet.
To achieve its objectives, the Learning Planet Institute creates research and teaching programs based on interdisciplinarity, diversity and the initiative of those first involved. It relies on synergies between its activities: R&D, Education, International Alliance, Organizational transformation and Digital ecosystems.
What is your status?
The Learning Planet Institute is an association under the French Law of 1901, founded in France in 2006:
- Explore new ways of learning, teaching and collectively developing digital methods and tools to train a generation of citizens who, together, can create and share solutions; ;
- Develop open and participatory research at the interface between life sciences, learning sciences and digital technology; ;
- Helping to transform committed communities and educational and research institutions to tackle the challenges of our time.
Your plea
Who is François Taddei?
Co-founder and president of the Learning Planet Institute, François Taddei is a general engineer at the French Ministry of Ecology and Forestry.
An internationally-renowned researcher at Inserm, he now devotes his time to the science of learning, and in particular to the notion of "learning by doing". Planetizen (planétoyen - citizen of the planet) to enable each and every one of us to learn how to take care of ourselves, others and the planet.
Since 2014, François Taddei has also been co-director of the UNESCO Chair “Sciences of Learning”, attached to Université Paris Cité.
He is the author of two books Et Si Nous?, published by Calmann-Lévy (2022) and Learning in the 21st century, published by Calmann-Lévy (2018).
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
In 2015, to meet the challenges facing the world, 193 countries adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the United Nations, pledging to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and guarantee peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
In order «not to leaving no one behind», the 17 SDGs are closely interconnected. No. 4 - which aims to « ensuring equitable, inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all» - is particularly cross-cutting and crucial: its achievement is a prerequisite for that of the other objectives.
The SDGs call for the mobilization of all: the international community, governments, NGOs, local authorities, businesses and citizens. The Learning Planet Institute association is part of the response to this global call to action.
A Planetary Academy?
We are convinced that it is more urgent than ever to give young people the means to think and act in order to build desirable futures, where everyone can develop their full potential and thus contribute to meeting the major challenges of our time, where young people can participate in the decisions that concern them, where education is focused on acquiring the skills needed for the world to come...
The Learning Planet Institute aims to transform the way we learn and teach, so that every learner becomes an agent of change committed to Peace and Sustainability.
What are you defending?
The Learning Planet Institute advocates large-scale collaboration to co-construct a learning society, capable of meeting the complex challenges we face today and in the future. A society in which «Learning Planetizens» learn to take care of themselves, others and the planet.
To achieve this, the Institute encourages large-scale collaboration to build a learning planet and develop new ways of learning and cooperating, as well as communities working, together, to find sustainable solutions in both the education and health sectors, as well as for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Your activities
What does the “Organization Transformation” business involve?
Our 20 years of experience in co-construction, collective intelligence and project-based learning are assets we'd like to share with you.
The Organizational Transformation division helps educational systems to evolve and transform organizations - both public and private - as well as educational institutions, to make them more effective learners.
Its activities are based on a dual approach: 1/ support based on the research process 2/ a training proposal in the form of co-constructed workshops.
Do you have any international initiatives?
Created in 2019 by the Learning Planet Institute and UNESCO, the’LearningPlanet International Alliance leads a global community dedicated to transforming education and co-constructing a learning society.
It brings together diverse, complementary and committed players (NGOs, public players, towns and territories, schools and universities, social entrepreneurs, companies, students, youth movements, activists, artists, etc.) with a common goal: to teach people to «take care of themselves, others and the planet».
Together, they share their knowledge, pedagogical practices and field experience (creating new ways of learning, teaching, researching and mobilizing collective intelligence), to better prepare individuals and organizations to understand and collectively meet the challenges of our time.
The LearningPlanet Alliance includes hundreds of partners worldwide.
What are the Learning Planet Institute's activities?
The Learning Planet Institute creates research and teaching programs based on interdisciplinarity, diversity and initiative.
It relies on synergies between its activities:
- R&D (search)
- Education (form)
- International Alliance (federate)
- Organizational transformation (accompany)
- Digital ecosystems (tool)
R&D at the Learning Planet Institute
How long has the Institute been welcoming researchers?
- In 2007, the Learning Planet Institute, then CRI, hosted the Chaire Université Paris Descartes-Orange «Innovative approaches to research and teaching».
- In 2012, the French National Research Agency's (ANR) Initiatives d'excellence en formations innovantes (IDEFI) supported research programs focusing on learning.
- In 2013, we hosted activities dedicated to citizen science (Citizen Science - European funding).
- Starting in September 2018, thanks to the support of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, the Learning Planet Institute welcomed researchers and enabled the creation of laboratories.
- Inserm University of Paris Joint Research Unit (UMR) - U1284 - has been created in January 2020. Housed at the Learning Planet Institute, it welcomes researchers - and their research projects - selected by the Scientific Advisory Board.
- As part of the new national five-year plan (2025 - 2029), the Learning Planet Institute is exploring new partnerships to host researchers in line with our R&D topics.
What are the main thrusts of R&D at the Learning Planet Institute?
In order to promote the transformation of learning - and thus have a positive impact on the planet - R&D department mobilizes research and technology for projects focused on :
- Artificial Intelligence
- Learning and collective intelligence
- Frugal innovation
- Individual and collective transitions
Its projects are envisioned and carried out according to their purpose.
In addition, the Learning Planet Institute is incubating the ELiS (Engaged Life Science) project, which coordinates all life science initiatives until the end of 2024.
Education at the Learning Planet Institute
Do you have any executive programs?
The university diplomas (DU) that we have been deploying for several years within the’Université Paris Cité confirmed the need for a specific training offer dedicated to professionals or professionals in transition.
With a new range of executive training courses - including short programs, a professional Master's degree and a professional Doctorate - the start of the 2023 academic year should see an expansion of our training offering.
National diplomas are developed as part of initial training in higher education. Our executive training courses, on the other hand, are designed as mid-career training courses, based on the principles of scientific research. Their credibility is assured by our academic expertise.
These training courses are part of high-level continuing education.
Paris University School of Interdisciplinary Research (EURIP) ?
The École Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Paris (EURIP) was co-created by Université Paris Cité and the Learning Planet Institute. It is supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) and has the distinctive feature of bridging the gap between fundamental and applied research at the interfaces of life sciences, learning sciences and digital sciences.
Interdisciplinary, based on collaborative learning, pedagogical innovation and scientific research methods, EURIP trains excellent multi-skilled students and researchers to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health and education.
EURIP brings together the Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research and Teaching (AIRE) Master's program, the Frontières de l'Innovation en Recherche et Éducation (FIRE) doctoral school, and a number of top-level laboratories. These programs are being renewed for the next five-year contract.
What are your milestones in terms of educational programs?
- 2006: creation of the first interdisciplinary doctoral school «Frontières du Vivant» with the Universities of Paris Descartes and Diderot (merged in 2020 to become Université Paris Cité).
- 2009: launch of an interdisciplinary Master's degree in «Approches Interdisciplinaires du Vivant», with the Descartes and Diderot universities (merged in 2020 to become Université Paris Cité).
- 2011: launch of an interdisciplinary «Frontières du Vivant» degree with Université Paris Descartes
- 2012: IDEFI (Initiatives d'excellence en formations innovantes) label awarded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), leading to the creation of a new Master's track called «FOSTER/Edtech» and now «Learning Sciences».»
- 2013: introduction of in-school and out-of-school activities («Savanturiers - École de la recherche» now run by AFPER); development of learning by doing with the MakerLab; development of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
- 2014: awarded the UNESCO Chair in Learning Sciences«, renewed in 2018 and 2022
- 2017: accreditation of the doctoral school by Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
- 2018: creation of the École Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Paris (EURIP)
- 2019: creation of the Institut des Défis by Université Paris Cité and the Learning Planet Institute, and launch of the Digital Sciences track Master.
- 2020 start-up of training programs for people far from employment
- 2022: hosting of the CY Cergy Paris Université/ESSEC Bachelor Act and development of the «Bâtisseurs de Possibles» program for students and teachers
- March 2025: the United Nations University and the Institute - wishing to strengthen and deepen their cooperation - have embarked on a close collaboration around the project «United Nations University Hub on the Future of Learning with Youth in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)». This new UNU Hub, the 1st in France, will focus on creating transformative learning experiences that inspire and enable young people to shape global peace. It aims to empower learners to become global citizens.
Read more - November 2025: The Learning Planet Institute officially became a Category II Institute (C2C) under the auspices of UNESCO in France. This designation is an exceptional recognition of the Institute and its two decades of educational innovation, excellence and commitment to transforming education worldwide.
Read more
What is your legitimacy when it comes to education?
Nearly 2,000 alumni, in initial or continuing training, with international backgrounds and trajectories, as well as an average of 350 students every year. All ambassadors of our legitimacy in this field.
- « The Learning Planet Institute breaks down the barriers to daring. There's an audacity, a latent madness in us, and it comes out! They try to de-form us so that we can build ourselves in our own way. » Flora, alumna.
- « The Learning Planet Institute really made me curious. I already had it, but in small doses. Learning Planet Institute increased it tenfold. » Julien, alumnus
The quality of our projects and education programs is recognized and assessed by independent teams:
- University degree courses are assessed by Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur (High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education) (Hcéres), for the renewal of our accreditations. Extract from the 2018 report on the Frontiers of Innovation in Research and Education (FIRE) Doctoral School:« This doctoral school (ED) is outstanding, and the committee has no specific recommendations. The establishment's Doctoral College could draw inspiration from the ED's principles of governance, which could be applied to other doctoral schools on the site. »
- The international jury for the Initiatives of Excellence in Innovative Training (IDEFI) of the’French National Research Agency (ANR). Excerpt from the 2015 report « In short, this crossroads of innovation in education and research is a whirling spiral that has generated extraordinary momentum from the very start. Its many achievements have reached a wide range of audiences, from primary school children to salaried employees and doctoral students, in both diploma and qualification courses. »
- Master AIRE, École doctorale FIRE, EURIP: academic programs praised in ANR and Hcéres evaluation reports
- Evaluation «Savanturiers - École de la recherche», publication of the 2016-2018 evaluation report, Marc Demeuse - director of the Institut d'administration scolaire (INAS) at the University of Mons & member of the Conseil scientifique de l'Education nationale - and Emilie Carosin - researcher at the Institut d'administration scolaire (INAS) at the University of Mons: an evaluation in the form of a research-intervention on our «Savanturiers - École de la Recherche» scheme, in August 2018. Since April 2022, the program has been run by the association l’AFPER.
- The project Make your dreams come true (RtR), winner of the call for projects 100% inclusion, the remobilization factory of the French Ministry of Labor, Full Employment and Integration, launched in 2018 as part of the Skills Investment Plan (PIC), has been the subject of publications in scientific journals and symposia.
The Learning Planet Institute (formerly CRI - Centre de recherches interdisciplinaires) has also contributed to several major educational publications, including :
- Report Rethinking our futures together: a new social contract for education, published by UNESCO, in November 2021
- Report A plan to co-construct a learning society, submitted to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of National Education and the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in April 2018.
- Report Towards a learning society - Report on lifelong learning research and development, submitted to the Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research in March 2017.
- Report For a learning society - Proposals for a national higher education strategy (StraNES) submitted to the President of the French Republic in September 2015
We have also been awarded the following labels:
Public or private institute of higher education?
We are an association that works primarily with French public universities (Université Paris Cité, CY Cergy Paris Université, Université Paris Sciences & Lettres), some of the most advanced in the field of transforming higher education to serve ecological, civic and societal transitions.
The Learning Planet Institute also works in close collaboration with international universities (University of Geneva - Switzerland, Tsinghua University - China, Harvard University - USA, Arizona State University - USA, UCL - UK, etc.) which are also carrying out projects to transform higher education.
Your financing
How are your accounts audited?
Our accounts are certified by KPMG statutory auditors.
They are published in the Journal Officiel within 3 months of their approval by the Board of Directors.
What's your budget like? Where does your funding come from?
How can you support our actions?
You can finance the education of and for tomorrow by becoming a patron and/or supporting our initiatives.
Support us!The Learning Planet Academy
What is Learning Planet Academy?
The Learning Planet Academy is the Learning Planet Institute's global model for educational transformation. It aims to train today those who will change the world tomorrow, enabling them to acquire the essential skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century that matter: Environment & Climate, Peace & Democracy, Mental Health & Well-being.
What is Learning Planet Academy's main mission?
Our mission is to equip today those who will build tomorrow's world. We don't want to train learners to be the best.
INthe world, but FOR the world, and give them the means to become citizens of the planet.Why reinvent learning now?
The advent of AI has revolutionized the way we learn and work; global crises are accelerating and demanding urgent action; and “traditional” education remains stuck in 20th century methods. We are convinced that there is an urgent need to reinvent learning of and for the 21st century.
Find out more.1st French Hub of the United Nations University ?
The United Nations University and the Institute are working closely together on the «United Nations University Hub on the Future of Learning with Youth in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)» project. This UNU Hub, the 1st in France, focuses on creating transformative learning experiences that inspire and enable young people to shape global peace. It aims to empower learners to become global citizens.
Read moreWhat is Learning Planet Academy's pedagogical approach?
Our approach is based on three pillars:
- Learning that works (AI for pedagogy, project-based learning, active research)
- Skills that learners really need (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, professional, intercultural and digital skills)
- Issues and challenges that matter (Environment & Climate, Peace & Democracy, Mental Health & Wellbeing)
What makes Learning Planet Academy unique?
Our unique model combines 7 distinctive pillars:
- Accredited and recognized diplomas
- International co-construction with and for young people
- Research-based initiatives
- A global focus aligned with the SDGs
- From social entrepreneurship to impact
- Large-scale personalized learning through the ethical use of AI
- The support of 2 major UN organizations: UNESCO and the United Nations University (UNU)
What is Learning Planet Institute's expertise?
We have over 20 years of expertise in educational innovation and research, during which we have transformed education to meet the global challenges of today and tomorrow.
20 years of expertise.Who is Learning Planet Academy for?
The Learning Planet Academy targets four main audiences:
- Young learners: developing key 21st century skills for peace and sustainability
- Education professionals: to equip them to guide students in acquiring these skills
- Institutions and decision-makers: in search of evidence-based strategies to achieve the SDGs
- Companies: to develop the key skills of the 21st century and attract young talent in search of meaning
What are the main programs and tools on offer?
Discover, imagine, build
Internationally or in France
In-class or online- Our (inter)national youth engagement programs
- Education for sustainable development and active learning courses for education professionals
- Our digital tools for sustainability education and active learning
- MOODs?
What is the LearningPlanet Festival?
It's the annual global meeting place for transformative education, organized every year around International Education Day (January 24), in partnership with UNESCO and thousands of students and young activists from all over the world.
Read more
