Learning cities bridging innovation and transformative education: the Viennese case study of Bildungsgrätzl

Today, the Smart Cities (SC) concept has quickly become popular in the debate on sustainable urban development. However, some critics argue that it has become a trendy buzzword. From a systemic view, cities are socio-ecological, complex, and adaptive systems addressed to integral wellbeing. Thus, SC strategy should not merely focus on solving pre-defined problems with technological innovation, but it should also focus on being a citizen in these evolving urban environments. Integrating the Learning City (LC) framework into such strategies is essential, as it highlights the transformative role of education rather than limiting it to job creation. This paper discusses the ecosystemic transformative learning model through the Bildungsgrätzl case study (neighborhood education), an initiative within the Viennese SC strategy, similar to Italian community educational pacts. These initiatives bridge SC and LC frameworks, as well as individual and community-based learning, and local and global practices.