Vitebsk became the first Belarusian city to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is designed to promote their development. Cities and communities are engaged in international dialogue on policy, experimental research, capacity-building and exchange of experiences, effectively using the methodology of learning cities to ensure access for their residents to lifelong learning. The network operates under the auspices of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (Hamburg, Germany) and unites the cities from more than 50 countries around the world.