2024.06.10
Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Dialogue Meeting on the 1974 Revised Recommendation of UNESCO
The Sophia University UNESCO Chair supported and organized sessions as a partner institution at the “Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Dialogue Meeting on the 1974 Revised Recommendation of UNESCO,” held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 5 to 7.
This meeting, co-hosted by the UNESCO Bangkok Regional Office and the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), with the cooperation of the Thai government, aimed to create a roadmap for the implementation of the “1974 Revised Recommendation,” which was approved in December 2023. Representatives from member countries and relevant stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region gathered for this purpose.
The Sophia University UNESCO Chair undertook the following two activities and participated in the conference management:
1. Research Presentation on Challenges and Proposals for Implementing the Revised Recommendation (Morning of June 5, 2024)
Professor Sugimura, the Chair’s implementation manager, delivered a research presentation at the plenary session on the theme “Current Landscape of Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development in Asia-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities in Implementation of Recommendation.” This presentation analyzed the challenges in the Asia-Pacific region based on existing UNESCO survey reports to create a roadmap for implementing the revised recommendation.
2. Planning and Management of Thematic Panel “Role of Educators” and Invitation of Panelists (Afternoon of June 5)
The Sophia University UNESCO Chair planned and managed the panel “Thematic Panel: Teacher Development, Teaching and Learning Materials” during the meeting. The panel focused on “educators,” one of the pillars required for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and invited the following members to the meeting:
Fr. Yoshitaka Ura, S.J., a teacher at St. Ignatius College in East Timor (Jesuit priest)
Ms. Mele Yeates from the Ministry of Education of Niue
Dr. Romyen Hibanada, Director of the Center for Global Citizenship Education at the Philippine Normal University
Dr. Chalermchai Phanthalert from the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Thailand
Prof. James Williams, Visiting Professor at Sophia University and George Washington University (participated online)
The panel discussed the role of teachers and the development of teaching materials, with presentations on ESD and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) practices in East Timor, Niue, and the Philippines, as well as perspectives from the Thai Ministry of Education.
Following the outcomes of this meeting, we plan to develop and implement a roadmap for the implementation of the revised UNESCO recommendation and conduct research activities through a series of activities in collaboration with the UNESCO Bangkok Office and APCEIU.
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