Step 1: INITIAL ENGAGEMENT

• Express your interest: Reach out to the Cities of Learning Network team to express your interest in joining. This can be done via email info@learningcities.net. You can also reach out by approaching an existing member of the Cities of Learning Network. In either case, we advise you to provide some basic information about your organisation and your vision for becoming a City of Learning.
• Introductory meeting: Once in contact with us, plan an introductory meeting with a representative of the Cities of Learning Network management trio. This meeting will help us to get to know you better and help you to understand the benefits, expectations, and processes involved in becoming a member. It’s also an opportunity to ask any questions you might have.
• Join upcoming Community call: If an introductory meeting cannot be held, the Cities of Learning Network representative will most probably invite you to join the first upcoming Community Call online meeting. There you will be able to meet existing network members, ask them questions and see how they operate. More about the Community Calls you can read in the following chapter (4.3.).

STEP 2: PLANNING AND PREPARATION

• Needs assessment: Conduct a needs assessment to identify the specific requirements and opportunities within your city or organisation. This involves understanding the local context, the target audience, and the potential impact areas.
• Set objectives: Define clear objectives for your City of Learning initiative. What are the key outcomes you want to achieve? How will you measure success? Setting these goals will guide your planning and implementation processes. Ideally this should be done before your introductory meeting with the Cities of Learning Network representative, as it will ensure easier discussion and steer the conversation in a clear direction, based on your needs, interest and wishes as well as the Network’s opportunities, activities and potentials.

STEP 3: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Set up your platform: Work with the Cities of Learning Network team to set up your digital platform. This platform will host your learning opportunities, digital badges, and community engagement tools. This can be achieved through common application for an Erasmus+ partnership or directly in collaboration with Cities of Learning Network team.
• Start creating learning opportunities: Develop a range of learning opportunities that align with your organisational vision and objectives. These can include workshops, courses, events, and more. Ensure that these opportunities are accessible, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.
• Actively promote: Promote your platform through various channels, including social media, local media, and community networks. Encourage participation and feedback from your audience. Share your development also with the Cities of Learning Network team so your growth and achievements and good practice examples can be shared on our social media and within the Network’s newsletter.

STEP 4: BUILDING YOUR NETWORK

• Form a core team: Assemble a dedicated team to lead the City of Learning initiative (within your organisation and/or city). This team will be responsible for coordinating activities, managing communications, and driving the project forward. Additionally, we advise you to expand this team, based on your need and growth level of your City of Learning. The team members should all be well-versed with the platform and its functions and should ideally have diverse skill sets and expertise, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all necessary aspects of your initiative.
• Engage stakeholders: Identify and engage key stakeholders, including educational institutions, local government, businesses, and community organisations. Their support and collaboration are crucial for the success of your initiative, not only with the possible financial support but especially with support in recognition and advocacy for the platform, digital learning badges as microcredential tools and more.

STEP 5: ONGOING SUPPORT AND GROWTH

• Continuous improvement: Regularly assess the impact of your City of Learning initiative. Gather feedback from participants, analyse data, and make necessary adjustments to improve your goals and partnerships.
• International network participation: Actively participate in the International Cities of Learning Network and its activities (described in detail in Chapter 7 of this document). Attend virtual and in person events, be active in network communication channels (slack, whatsapp community, email correspondence), share best practices (and communicate about them to the network management trio team, so we can share them on our social media channels, website and newsletter) and collaborate with other members to enhance the collective impact of the network.
• Scale and expand: As your City of Learning grows, look for opportunities to scale and expand your activities. This could involve partnering with new organisations, developing new learning opportunities, or extending your reach to new communities (locally, nationally and internationally).