"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 three major areas of the Chair

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:

1 - R&D

LPI MakerLab ©Antonin Weber Hans Lucas The Learning Sciences UNESCO Chair

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: 

2 - Education

Mecene©Quentin Chevrier The Learning Sciences UNESCO Chair

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 

3 - International Alliance

Learning Planet Institute Learning Planet Festival 2023©Quentin Chevrier 3 The Learning Sciences UNESCO Chair

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:

Cycle of conferences

The cycle of conferences launched in 2023 by the Learning Planet Institute explores the themes addressed by the ‘Learning Sciences’ Chair, as part of our collaboration with UNESCO to build a global university dedicated to education for peace, sustainable living and global citizenship, equipping people with the skills they need to shape a better future.

Join our conferences

The UNESCO Chair in Learning Sciences is launching its 2024-2025 cycle of conferences with a compelling focus on how education can foster peace, enhance civic participation, strengthen democracy, and inspire constructive and sustainable engagement. In response to pressing environmental, demographic, social, and digital transitions, these conferences will reimagine research on key 21st-century competencies and their integration into educational programs, equipping learners to tackle the challenges of planetary health.

The conference cycle will cover the following themes:

6 November 2024

Skills and Professions of the Future

January 2025

Education for Peace, Hope, and Active Citizenship: Promoting positive peace education and civic engagement

Mars 2025

Learning from the Extremes: Addressing resilience and education in emergencies, particularly in the context of climate change

Juin/Juillet 2025

New Leadership Models in Education: Developing leadership models for educators and school leaders, with a focus on vocational leadership and governance of commons

(Re)Discover our past conferences

“Skills and Professions of the Future”
6th november 2024

What will the future of work look like in the context of environmental, demographic, social, and digital transitions? How can we reimagine education and prepare a workforce capable of addressing the challenges of planetary health and sustainable development? This conference focused on the evolution of occupations, the potential extinction of certain professions, and the emergence of new creative skills essential for tomorrow’s workforce.

With Borhene Chakroun (UNESCO), Mahlet Rede (Econodata), Michael Fung (Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnologico de Monterre), Todd Lubart (Université Paris Descartes), Vicki Phillips (National Center on Education and the Economy), Louise Massacrier (Université Paris Cité/Learning Planet Institute), Zoe Lina Wehmeye (Université Paris Cité/Learning Planet Institute) and Iryna Nikolayeva (Learning Planet Institute) 

“Co-Designing the Future of Learning with Youth”
22th july 2024

What are the innovative initiatives that actively involve youth in shaping the future of education, spanning governance, curriculum design, and education advocacy? How can we generate actionable insights for creating learning environments responsive to the needs and aspirations of young people, fostering their active participation in shaping their educational experiences?

With Manja Klemenčič (Harvard University, Bloomsbury Handbook of Student Politics and Representation in Higher Education), Michael Winter (Oikos International), Arissa Roy (youth activist), finalists from the Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge, Edward Stevenette (Learning Planet Institute), and François Taddei (Learning Planet Institute).

“Teaching & learning with generative AI”
27th march 2024

How can we explore the disruptive potential of generative AI in teaching and learning?

With Justine Cassell (Inria/Carnegie Mellon University), Delphine Le Serre (EdHu2050), Fengchun Miao (UNESCO), Colin de la Higuera (Nantes Université), François Taddei (Learning Planet Institute), and Chabab Nastar (Learning Planet Institute)

Greening education
24th january 2024

What are the environmental sustainability initiatives in schools and K12 education, the best practices from universities and higher education institutions, as well as innovations emerging from non-profits and non-higher education organizations?

With Won Jung Byun (UNESCO), Brian MacCraith (Arizona State University), Runa Khan (Friendship), Eric Guilyardi (Office for Climate Education), Nikita Gidwani (Aga Khan Education Service), and Gaëll Mainguy (Learning Planet Institute)

Education: Learning to Thrive in Uncertain Futures
19th october 2023

The ‘Exploring Local Learning Ecosystems in the Global South: Pathways to Thriving for Every Child’ report published this year states:
“Education needs to become an avenue through which global society will overcome the challenges, gaps and systemic barriers we have created, and which COVID-19 brought into sharp focus as never before: the digital divide, the imbalance of information flows, growing economic and social inequality – particularly the long-term impact of ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences), religious, ethnic, and cultural divides, and the extreme ecological pressures humans have placed upon the Earth. The profound disruption of labour markets, as a result of technological advancements, is being further exacerbated by the current global financial instability.” How then may learning ecosystems help us move from adversity to thriving?

With Stefania Giannini (UNESCO), Laura Head (Université Paris Cité-Learning Planet Institute), Julia Hermida (Universidad Nacional de Hurlingham, CONICET), Edouard Kaminski (Université Paris Cité), and François Taddei (Learning Planet Institute)

Our latest News

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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