"Sciences de l'apprendre"

Learning Sciences

The UNESCO Chair “Sciences de l’apprendre” (Learning Sciences)

François Taddei, founder and president of the Learning Planet Institute, has been UNESCO Chair in Learning Sciences (“Sciences de l’apprendre”) since 2014.

Partnered with the Learning Planet Institute and Université Paris Cité, the Chair combines research, pedagogy and technology to support teachers, researchers and all of those involved on the ground in building a learning society for a more sustainable future. Our engagement is based on the conviction that youth, lifelong learning and collective intelligence are the best levers for positive change in our societies.

The UNESCO Chair in Learning Sciences was renewed in 2018 and 2022. For 2022-2026, the Chair’s programme will focus on three major areas:

In the era of collective intelligence, systemic transitions and sustainability, we work towards fostering a learning society through research on the evolution of learning and collective decision-making. What we do:

R&D in the emerging fields of learning sciences and collective intelligence
Enhance our know-how through reflective research, in order to build on our differentiating approach and create assets for the future
Design groundbreaking interdisciplinary seminars led by a network of experts to explore specific contentions in depth
Build R&D partnerships with Université Paris Cité and CY Université, as well as with the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) and our renewed international Scientific Advisory Board

1 - R&D

2 - Education

To co-create a learning society to meet the challenges of our time by increasing the number of learners and teachers benefiting from innovative educational content and methods. To be identified as a major player in the field of Education, Research and Youth. Our goal is to co-create a learning society that can meet the challenges of our time by increasing access to innovative educational content and methods for both learners and teachers. We aspire to become a major player in the fields of education, learning sciences and youth by:

Continually striving to strengthen the focus of fundamental and applied research at the École Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Paris (EURIP Graduate School) to provide Master’s and Doctoral students with the scientific knowledge and transversal skills they need to become excellent multi-skilled entrepreneurs and researchers. These skills include communication, ethics, critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship, all of which are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Engaging the Institut des Défis at the intersection of Université Paris Cité, the City of Paris and its citizens. By doing so, we aim to create opportunities for researchers and citizens to connect and collaborate, thereby promoting the exchange of knowledge and ideas
Creating lifelong training courses dedicated to “game-changing” in order to encourage interdisciplinary, international and intergenerational learning experiences (eg. Drivers for Change Summer School)
Prototyping leading reference training programmes for scientific and social entrepreneurs of all ages

Our international mission is to continue leading the global community of practice dedicated to transforming education and co-constructing a learning society. We aim to facilitate the creation of projects that teach individuals to care for themselves, others, and the planet by:

Expanding our community to include businesses that align with the Learning Planet Institute’s values and the Sustainable Development Goals
Celebrating learning during the annual LearningPlanet Festival and targeted events

3 - International Alliance

More about the UNITWIN*/UNESCO Chairs Programme

UNESCO Chairs should contribute to UNESCO‘s priorities.
The UNITWIN*/UNESCO Chairs Programme mobilizes expertise of higher education and research institutions to address the interdependent challenges of today’s increasingly complex world. It was established in 1992 with the vision to advance an integrated system of research, training and activities in diverse fields by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge and expertise across borders (…) The UNITWIN Programme is a unique intellectual and strategic resource of some 900 institutions from over 120 countries aimed at strengthening connections between research and development policy and practice at country, regional and global levels. It has contributed to strengthening higher education systems and fostering collaborative research partnerships and networks. *University Twinning and Networking
A UNESCO Chair is a team led by a higher education or research institution that partners with UNESCO on a project to advance knowledge and practice in an area of common priority (…) Established within a teaching or research unit/department/faculty of the higher education or research institution, the UNESCO Chair is led by an academic head referred to as the Chairholder.
A UNITWIN Network is a partnership between UNESCO and a network of higher education or research institutions of at least three institutions in different countries, at least two of which must be located in the Global South, and which pool their competencies and resources around particular theme(s).

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