Open Learning is a new way to think about learning. Open learning recognizes learning is not limited to a classroom, rather, learning happens in an endless number of ways. If traditional learning resembles a ladder, open learning resembles a dynamic climbing wall. This climbing wall incorporates an infinite number of ways to learn, from traditional classrooms to employment, to volunteering, to an art class or playing sports, listening to a podcast and everything in between.

Open learning is a foundational driver in Calgary’s Skills Development Framework because it provides the potential to unlock the city’s learning capacity by prioritizing accessible and inclusive learning. Open learning empowers individuals to define their own destination and map their own path on the climbing wall. It also recognizes that employers must play a more active role in the learning journey of Calgarians. In fact, employers transition from being mere consumers of talent, to becoming activate co-creators of this talent.

Calgary’s learning system today encompasses over 3000 organizations delivering over 30,000 programs and 3.5M learning experiences. In addition, Calgary is home to 58,000 for-profit and non-profit organizations employing hundreds of thousands of Calgarians. However, this current system is highly fragmented, and it lacks a shared purpose and the underlying mechanisms to optimize its outcomes.

This is why the LearningCITY Collective is piloting the LearningCITY Lab with the support of the City of Calgary, Calgary Downtown Association, Oxford Properties, and Mount Royal University. The LearningCITY Lab is part of a city-level study and is designed to identify and pilot approaches to increase collaboration between learners, businesses, universities and colleges, government and non-profit organizations. The lab will complement and augment Calgary’s learning system by focusing on three goals: harmonize, collaborate, and innovate.

During the pilot phase, the 15,000 sq. ft. lab will be open from June 2023 to April 2024 in Bow Valley Square. The lab will be a place for employers, skills developers, policymakers, researchers, and learners to collaborate and work together to pilot new approaches to collaboration. In addition to hosting Mount Royal University students as part of the pilot AccelerateU program, the lab will pursue collaborations with other universities, colleges, business and non-profit organizations.

Pilot Priorities

The lab will explore the following four research questions:

1. How can we facilitate increased collaboration across the learning system?

2. How can we integrate formal and informal learning into a seamless learning experience?

3. How will employers transition from consumers to co-creators of talent?

4. How can we increase interdisciplinary skills development to drive increased career adaptability?

Measuring Impact

The LearningCITY Lab’s measurable impact on learning outcomes and labour market transition will be evaluated as part of the LearningCITY Collective’s comprehensive Community-Embedded Learning Study.