About the Conference
The UNESCO-APEID International Conference is a major event that brings together a broad range of participants to discuss and exchange information on selected topics. The theme for the 11th Conference, in 2007, is "Reinventing Higher Education: Toward Participatory and Sustainable Development". This conference will provide a unique forum for participants to explore the role and involvement of universities and higher education institutions within the framework of participatory development.
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What is participatory development?
Participatory development is a bottom-up, people-centred approach towards developing the full potential of all members of society, especially poor and marginalized social groups. This approach contributes to establishing processes that can lead to sustainable development and to poverty reduction, through greater empowerment, gender equality, social inclusion and respect for human rights, based on the conviction that development needs to be grounded in people's own cultures and priorities.
What are the objectives of the Conference?
UNESCO-APEID aims to highlight the role of universities and other higher education institutions in addressing social inequalities and in formulating sustainable solutions with, and for, people so that they can have equal access to the benefits of a globalizing world. To facilitate a paradigm shift, the 11th International Conference seeks to:
- Enhance understanding of the concepts and principles of participatory and sustainable development
- Explore the role of higher education institutions in engaging with communities, NGOs and the private sector
- Encourage the formulation of collaborative participatory and sustainable development programmes and activities
- Facilitate the development of a network of policy makers, educators and learners who will contribute to collaborative learning for participatory development and social change
- Showcase examples and models of "Participatory and Sustainable Development in Action"
The Conference will focus specifically on the following sub-themes:
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I. Paradigms of Development
● The concepts of participatory and sustainable development
● Implications for higher education research and teaching
● Engagement with communities
II. Possibilities for Development
● Initiatives of higher education institution departments, staff and students
● Opportunities and constraints faced by such initiatives
III. Partnerships in Development
● Local, regional and international partnerships among higher education institutions
● Linkages among higher education institutions, government, communities, NGOs, private sector
● Key elements for successful partnerships in development
IV. Permitting Development
● Quality assurance standards and processes
● Criteria for monitoring and evaluation
● Regulatory frameworks
Keynote speakers
- Stephen Toope
University of British Columbia - Peter Taylor
Institute of Development Studies - Anthony Stella
Australian Universities Quality Agency
Who should attend the Conference?
Anyone who is interested in higher education, participatory development and sustainable development is welcome to attend the Conference. However, some of the identified groups who would particularly contribute to and benefit from the Conference include:
- Members of National Commissions of UNESCO and APEID Associated Centres
- Ministers and politicians
- National and state education system policy-makers and administrators
- Principals, heads, leaders and managers of educational institutions
- Teachers, lecturers, researchers and education practitioners
- Business and industry employers
- Education union and professional association personnel
- Representatives from non-government organizations and associations, community and indigenous organizations
- Representatives of UNESCO and United Nations affiliate groups
Previous UNESCO-APEID Conference themes:
- 1995: Partnerships in Teacher Development for a New Asia
- 1996: Re-engineering Education for Change: Educational Innovation for Development
- 1997: Educational Innovation for Sustainable Development
- 1998: Secondary Education and Youth at the Crossroads
- 1999: Reforming Learning, Curriculum and Pedagogy: Innovative Visions for the New Century
- 2000: Information Technologies and Educational Innovation for Development: Interfacing Global and Indigenous Knowledge
- 2001: Using ICT for Quality in Teaching, Learning and Effective Management
- 2002: Innovations in Secondary Education: Meeting the Needs of Adolescents and Youth in Asia and the Pacific
- 2003: Educational Innovations for Development in Asia and the Pacific
- 2006: Learning Together for Tomorrow: Education for Sustainable Development