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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 10:37 |
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asia pacific unesco director visits nz
The NZ National Commission for UNESCO hosted top UNESCO education official, Dr Gwang-Jo Kim in February. It was the first time Dr Kim had visited New Zealand since he was appointed Director of the UNESCO Office in Bangkok and Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific, as well as UNESCO Representative to Thailand, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Singapore in 2009.
Dr Kim met with a wide range of senior government officials and was keen to find out more about New Zealand’s multi-lingual education (mother-tongue based pilots such as kohanga reo) and indigenous education experiences.
“New Zealand has set a good example of this with recognition and education in the native tongue spoken in this country. UNESCO would like to promote this kind of multi-lingual programme throughout the world,” said Dr Kim.
“Indigenous education experiences in New Zealand could be a perfect example for the remainder of the region. Issues that face many countries in the Asia Pacific region around the development of better, more effective approaches to indigenous education.”
Between 2001 and 2004, Dr Kim was affiliated with the World Bank as Senior Education Specialist at its Headquarters in Washington DC. During this time, he worked on education projects which included the preparation of lending schemes and delivery of technical assistance, as well as monitoring and evaluating human resources development projects on issues such as lifelong learning, on-the-job training, technical and vocational education, secondary and tertiary education, students’ loan programmes, and information and communication technologies (ICT) in education. He was also involved in a “Lifelong Learning: Education for knowledge-based economy” analytical programme, initiated by the World Bank’s Human Development Network, Education (HDNED).
Born in 1955, Dr Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Korea University, Seoul (1978), as well as a Master’s degree (1984) and a PhD (1994) in Education from Harvard University, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
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Friday, 05 February 2010 12:03 |
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The Pyepoudre Cultural and Education Centre was completely destroyed by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th.. Local musician Lucien Johnson is behind a fundraising concert to help members of the centre community whose lives were shattered by the disaster.
“We have been totally crippled and need every help we can get. Three children have lost their parents and are in our care. We are doing our best to help all the people whose houses have been destroyed. At the moment we share what food, water and clothing we have,” reports Pyepoudre founder, Paula Claermont Pean from Port-au-Prince.
Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, Madame Pean established the centre 25-years ago.
Pyepoudre was a beacon of hope for young people from some of Port-au-Prince’s poorest shantytowns. As well as running workshops on performing, visual and cultural arts, Pyepoudre ran reading and writing classes, education programmes, a library and an internet centre.
Lucien worked at Pyepoudre in 2009 and says the collective of volunteer musicians, actors and artists worked extensively with local communities especially young people. Many volunteers were also social workers and teachers.
“The concert was a unique way we can help by providing urgent, direct relief that will give some a chance to rebuild their shattered lives,” he says.
Donations for Pypoudre continue to be collected by the Wellington branch of Alliance Francaise.
Haiti officials have confirmed that 170,000 lost their lives on January 12th, however thousands more are feared dead.
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Thursday, 20 August 2009 17:09 |
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UNESCO World Conference on HIGHER Education
The conference was held in July and at its conclusion, delegates called on world governments to: increase investment in higher education; encourage diversity; and strengthen regional cooperation to serve societal needs. UNESCO Director-General, Koichiro Matsuura affirmed that the organisation would “continue to be a strong voice for education” . . “against a fast changing and complex landscape, we have defined future directions because we fundamentally share a common vision of higher education’s ethical and strategic responsibilities in today’s global society.” Two New Zealanders participated in this global forum, Frances Kelly (New Zealand’s Education Counsellor, currently based in Brussells) and Gail Gillon (Pro Vice Chancellor, Canterbury University/Te Whare Wananga O Waitaha.)
For more information please go to: http://www.unesco.org/en/higher-education |
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Monday, 03 August 2009 17:08 |
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Diverse Projects Supported by UNESCO Contestable Fund
Human rights education in schools, climate change projects in colleges and an information technology festival on the remote East Cape are some of the innovative projects supported this year by the NZ National Commission for UNESCO’s Contestable Activity Fund or UCAF.
“Promoting peace and social justice in New Zealand and the Pacific through education, the sciences, culture and the free exchange of ideas is our organisation’s focus,” says chairman, Bryan Gould.
“We received a high standard of applications this year and were delighted to support a diverse range of projects.”
Successful projects funded were: Human Rights in Education Project with ASP Schools (Human Rights In Education Trust): $5000; Wellington Youth Climate Forum for secondary students ($4375); Te Rangitawaea ICT festival for East Cape residents (Ngati Porou Runanga): $5000; and the Kowiana annual conference for young, Korean Kiwis (Kowiana Association): $3000
“These inventive projects reflect UNESCO’s growing intersectoral focus by engaging with at least two of UNESCO’s key mandated areas - Education, Natural Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture and Communications and Information,” says Mr Gould. |
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