In fact, a UN study of 104 countries found that four out of five are experiencing a crisis of learning. If current trends continue without intervention, a staggering 84 million children and youth will be out of school by 2030, while 300 million students will lack essential numeracy and literacy skills. Recognizing the urgent need to improve access to academic opportunities for people of all ages, the United Nations introduced (Sustainable Development Goal) SDG goal 4 to promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education, along with lifelong learning.
The meetings industry is uniquely positioned to advance this goal. Through knowledge sharing, skills development, and access to global expertise, international associations and business events can help to accelerate learning in communities around the world. BestCities Global Alliance is committed to contributing to this collective effort by initiating and advocating for business events that deliver long-term educational legacies.
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Achieving SDG 4 through business events
The United Nations has emphasized that SDG 4 is a key enabler for achieving most other SDGs. However, in 2019, only 58 percent of students worldwide attained at least a minimum proficiency level of reading at the end of primary school.
Business events that convene academics, professionals, and changemakers from diverse backgrounds can make a substantial impact by bridging current gaps in education. These gatherings offer platforms for ongoing learning, cross-border collaboration, and skills development. Events that prioritize community engagement, capacity building, and free access to knowledge are particularly well-positioned to drive progress in educational literacy within communities.
Three ways that BestCities is championing SDG 4
In addition to supporting member destinations with international events that integrate education, BestCities head office is advancing SDG 4 in several ways:
1 – BestCities Global Forum
Each year, the BestCities Global Forum offers a comprehensive educational programme designed to ignite innovation, foster inclusivity, and transform global challenges into community-driven solutions.
2 – BestCities Community Cafés
Throughout the year, BestCities hosts several Community Cafés – online sessions that connect the meetings community with global leaders who share their expertise in key topics. In April 2025, BestCities partnered with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) to host a Community Café focused on the Incredible Impacts Programme, a joint initiative that champions associations demonstrating exceptional impact and legacy. During the session, past winners shared their knowledge and insights, inspiring other associations to apply and showcase their own community-driven initiatives. Winners have introduced a range of public-facing education, including health screening programs, outreach to boost medical literacy, and facilitating attendance at educational events for underrepresented regions.
3 – X-Culture Competition
In 2024, BestCities teamed up with Martiz to participate in X-Culture, a program that provides business students with an opportunity to apply their education towards solving real-world challenges. A team of 51 students from 15 countries worked together to tackle BestCities and Martiz’ challenge: showcasing the economic, social, and cultural impact of major events on host cities. By channeling their collective knowledge, the students formulated solutions to emphasize sustainability, improve benefits for local businesses and communities, and more effectively communicate the positive impacts of business events. Through this challenge, students gained valuable hands-on experience while contributing data and insights to support further research.
Four BestCities destinations driving progress on SDG 4
BestCities’ 13 partner destinations have made significant strides in advancing SDG 4 through educational events and knowledge sharing. Four destinations in particular – Madrid, Cape Town, Copenhagen, and Melbourne – have exhibited remarkable progress in establishing lasting educational legacies:
- Madrid, Spain When the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) was considering host destinations for its 2021 Congress, the Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB) proposed the development of a new resource to fill gaps of information about radiotherapy. When Madrid won the bid, the MCB and ESTRO created inforadioterapia.com, a digital portal that aims to improve public understanding of this type of therapy, directly contributing to SDG 4’s goal of promoting lifelong learning.
- Cape Town, Africa The 2024 International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly, hosted in Cape Town, was anchored by education, accessibility, and inclusion. The conference featured extensive outreach programmes for public and school audiences, aiming to inspire interest in astronomy and STEM fields. It also supported hybrid learning and equitable access through Radio Astro, a pioneering project that streamed conference highlights to a global audience on a daily basis. The content was presented by a team of aspiring young broadcasters, providing them with an early opportunity to upskill in the field of science and technology communication.
- Copenhagen, Denmark The 2023 European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress implemented a robust legacy strategy focused on education. More than 8,500 attendees benefited from knowledge-sharing with local healthcare professionals and educational institutions, with the goal of improving awareness, early diagnosis, and care quality for multiple sclerosis. Recognizing the need to translate technical information for patients, ECTRIMS, with support from Copenhagen Legacy Lab, invited people living with MS to participate in a dedicated Patient Community Day, facilitating the exchange of knowledge between researchers and patients.
- Melbourne, Australia In 2025, the Melbourne Convention Bureau introduced the First Peoples Engagement Guide as a cultural educational tool for international business events planners. The digital guide shares how meeting planners can appropriately recognize, respect, and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities when planning and promoting local conferences.
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is enhancing its role as a global knowledge hub by transforming its thriving calendar of international conferences into a vehicle for lasting educational impact. While the city has long hosted events that promote knowledge exchange, the long-term benefits of these gatherings have not consistently aligned with broader community development goals. To address this, a new legacy framework will be introduced in 2025 to evaluate how such events contribute to skill-building and knowledge growth, particularly for youth and adults. With a strong focus on attracting conferences that target local gaps in expertise, especially in technical and vocational fields, Dubai aims to position itself as a hub for transformative education, to foster inclusive learning opportunities through conferences, associations and events to empower and equip its workforce, and address future challenges, growth and economic diversification under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
An example of the Incredible Impacts Programme supporting SDG 4
BestCities and ICCA’s Incredible Impacts Programme elevates international associations that drive significant, positive change in local communities. In 2024, the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) received the Incredible Impacts Seed Grant of $5,000 USD. The organisation used the funds to launch the ICRS Global Access Fellowship – an initiative designed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in orthoregenerative medicine education.
The fellowship will enable two delegates from underrepresented regions – including South America, Africa, and Asia – to attend the 2025 ICRS educational event, covering travel, accommodation, event registration, and access to social and networking events. Making it possible for delegates from underrepresented regions to attend ICRS’s educational event is one of many examples of Incredible Impacts Programme winners contributing to SDG 4 (read more Incredible Impacts case studies here).
Taking steps toward SDG Goal 4
By regularly hosting educational sessions and advocating for conferences and community initiatives that prioritize knowledge sharing and lifelong learning, BestCities and its partner destinations regularly contribute to SDG Goal 4. Associations can likewise make a meaningful impact by considering the educational legacy of their events, and by fostering knowledge sharing and capacity building within host communities.
Related Posts:
Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Championing Gender Equality through Business Events: BestCities’ Approach to UN SDG Goal 5