Based in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok, Thailand, the Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) has organized a series of international conferences since 1995 to provide a forum for policy dialogue, and information and knowledge sharing on development-oriented education innovations and exemplary practices in and beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

The 14^th UNESCO-APEID International Conference will focus on “Education for Human Resource Development” for participants to examine and strengthen the relationships and linkages between the world of education and the world of work. More specifically, the UNESCO-APEID Conference will provide a forum to:

• Increase understanding and knowledge of education for HRD;
• Showcase and promote innovative and educational approaches, projects and practices that enhance education for HRD;
• Encourage national, regional and global collaboration across all sectors and levels to improve education for HRD; and
• Facilitate networking and exchange of experiences among policy makers, researchers, educators, administrators, youth and private sector personnel.

This year, the Conference will be held in conjunction with the Global Human Resource Forum in South Korea, with the support of the World Bank, the Ministry of Education in Thailand and the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States in Beirut.

Eminent speakers and paper presenters will share their rich experiences in linking theory to practice. Ministers, policy makers, educators, teachers, academicians, researchers, representatives from the private sector and youth groups will be able to discuss, exchange information and learn from each other on how we can develop and optimize our human capital to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

A special Inter-regional Ministerial Round-Table will be also held as part of the Conference. Ministers of Education from Asia-Pacific and Arab regions will have a great opportunity to meet and discuss educational and human resource development issues of mutual interest.

Sub-themes

I.     Scope of Education and Training for Human Resource Development in the 21^st Century

• Identifying knowledge, skills, competencies, values and ethics to meet 21^st century challenges
• Establishing standards for education and training to enhance HRD
• Developing recognition mechanisms for education and training
• Designing research on education and training for HRD

II.   Pathways to Education and Training for Human Resource Development

• Enhancing the human capital through higher education
• Advancing technical and vocational education and training
• Supporting non-formal education and community-based learning
• Advocating lifelong learning and ICT-mediated delivery modes of learning

III.  Institutional Frameworks to Support Education and Training for Human Resource Development

• Promoting policy dialogues on education and training for HRD
• Formulating effective governance, management and regulatory processes
• Devising monitoring and evaluation systems
• Identifying sustainable financing mechanisms for education and training for HRD