ASIA-EUROPE FORUM ON EDUCATION
Third edition
Event dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of UNESCO
And the 60th anniversary of Romania’s membership in this organization
In a world of economical globalization, computerization and ever increasing cultural diversity, the problem of educational ethics for young people is the central point of dialogue in most countries. As a way of efficiently exploiting the modalities of bringing ethical education in schools and improving the quality of education for the younger generation, Всемирная федерация клубов ЮНЕСКО, Центры и ассоциации (ВФАКЮ), the International Bureau for Education (IBE), , the European and North American Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации (EFUCA), the Asia-Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации (AFUCA) have decided that, as of 2013, they will annually organize and promote the Asia-Europe Forum on Education (AEFE).
For 2015, it was proposed that the third edition would take place in Europe, choosing Romania as the host-country. The main theme, the main pillar of discussion was: education and sustainable development. As such, in October 07-11, 2015 Alumnus Club UNESCO has coordinated the organization of the III Asia-Europe Forum on Education in Romania; event whose main aim was promoting through dialogue innovative solutions for an efficient intercultural education, which would help diminish the existing tensions in some cases, in different areas.
The forum has brought together personalities who are active in the field of education, are dynamic and interested in shaping educational progress in order to elevate humankind through knowledge.
In today’s ever changing altering, developing, dynamic and irresolute world, we, as societies are facing threats and provocations unknown to previous generations. These continuous mutations that are developing at a personal, local, national and global level are generating an increasingly convoluted and labyrinthine international geopolitical situation.
In order to be capable to cope in an efficient manner with these sets of newly emerging problems which are unique to our times we need skilled, proficient people, with a certain know-how who fully understand the challenges of these Gordian times. Education is crucial and it is necessary for society to have a meaningful conversation regarding the way future generations will be brought up.
In this context we would like to insert the present forum, the first of its kind to be hosted on European soil. This forum aims specifically at promoting innovative solutions for a meaningful intercultural education and aims at promoting intercultural dialogue which would lessen the existing tensions between different cultures and help everybody work together in order to create a better world for themselves, their loved ones and future generations through sustainable development.
Sustainable development in education means to invest in people and create a mindset of responsibility and ethics which whose outcome would be an international, all-inclusive dialogue. Interdisciplinary cooperation is needed in order to encourage responsible behavior and actively engage citizens.
Europe and Asia can productively work together in order to achieve a harmonic environment balanced by the different philosophies which have been harbored by the two and which have marked humankind; a perfect equilibrium between the Occident of Roman law and Greek philosophy and the Orient of the Spring and Autumn Period.
This event will be included in the III Romanian National Plan for the Alliance of Civilizations, an UN initiative launched in 2005, as a way of mobilizing political action at a global level in order to ease dialogue and promote understanding and reconciliation between cultures and religions, especially by sustaining projects in areas such as education, youth, migration and mass-media. The works of the forum took place at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest.
This forum was the creation of the following organizers: the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, the Romanian Government through the Department for Interethnic Relations, the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, the European and North American Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации, the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest, Alumnus Club UNESCO alongside partners from different domains: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Alliance of Civilizations, Всемирная федерация клубов ЮНЕСКО, Центры и ассоциации, the People’s Republic of China National Commission for UNESCO, the Bucharest Municipality, ARCUB- the Cultural Center of Bucharest, the Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации, the Progress Through Education Foundation, Corciu and Associates and Thumbelina Kindergarten.
During the three days of debating over 100 important personalities from 34 countries and UNESCO Paris participated with original papers or in the debates. The most numerous delegations were the ones from China, Италия, Russia, Belarus and Romania.
On October 8, the participants visited the Pietroasele Wine Resort and the Muddy Volcanoes in Buzau and they appreciated both the products of the resort and the beautiful landscape.
A delegation of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации, the European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations and the Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations presented a last homage to the founding President of the Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации – lawyer Paula Iacob. A condolences book В память was opened at the beginning of the works of the III Asia-Europe Forum on Education.
On October 9 the Asia-Europe Forum on Education commenced with the opening of the “Here, Bucharest Romania” exhibit and an artistic moment offered by the children at the Degetica Kindergarten. The President of the Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations and the author of the children’s book “The Spectator” offered books to all the children.
The project was initiated by the ALUMNUS CLUB for UNESCO Association, which has over 15 years of experience in issues regarding cultural education. The partners of the project were the Thumbelina Kindergarten and ARCUB, as financer. "Here Bucharest Romania", was created in association with the European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации и Romanian Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации.
The focal point was the children of Bucharest, involving at the same time a wide audience formed of the residents of Bucharest or the people in transit. By involving pre-school children in the project activities we reach the pre-school area from a cultural point of view, where, according to specialist studies such initiatives are necessary in order to stimulate cognitive, social and cultural development, which will prepare children for early learning activities.
The opening ceremony of the works of the Forum began with a message from the President of Romania, Клаус Вернер Johannis, presented by Mrs. Ligia Deca, State counselor for the Romanian presidency, followed by speechs by Mr. Sorin Mihai Câmpeanu, Minister of Education and Scientific Research and Mr. Aledin Amet Secretary of State of the Romanian Government – the Department for Interethnic Relations.
Within the same ceremony several other speeches followed: Дхирендра Бхатнагар, President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации, Даниэль Тэнасе, general director in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Адриан Чиорояну, Romanian ambassador at UNESCO, Ани Матей, Secretary general of the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, Разван Теодореску Ионуц, rector of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest, Eliot Minchenberg, ЮНЕСКО, Ю. Сяопин, the People’s Republic of China National Commission for UNESCO, Ana Dumitrescu, Метаморфозы project coordinator, Daniela Popescu – President, European Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации.
The works approached subjects related to the central theme: education and sustainable development. On opening the session, Vasile Ghica launched his volume entitled In the Claws of Laughter, (Когти Смех), a compilation of aphorisms translated into French and Arabic.
The four grans subthemes of the Forum were structured as follows:
1. Education and the Alliance of Civilizations – debate moderated by Mr. Петру Думитриу, plenipotentiary minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Papers were presented by participants from China, Japan, Кипр, Spain, and Romania.
2. Excellence in language studies and intercultural education, bilingualism and multilingualism, education through acknowledgement of patrimony, access to education for disadvantaged groups-the relevance of UNESCO clubs roles and civil society regarding these challenges, moderated by Mr. Джордж Христофидес, honorary president of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Центры и ассоциации.
Personalities from Belarus, Switzerland, Кипр, Греция, Italy and Portugal discussed different aspects regarding this theme, underlying UNESCO’s role in implementing these changes.
3. From theory to practice, the partnership between school and business in professional, vocational/dual education, is the theme which started the second day of debates. The moderator of this theme was Mr. Werner Braun – President of the German Economic Club – Deutcher Wirtschaftsklub, Брашов, he gave the floor to the speakers who dealt with the subject from their country’s policies perspective: Germany, Румыния, США, Russia, Италия, Сербия.
4. University education- tying technology and innovation on the labor market
Moderated by Mr. Джон Дона, professor at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest. Speeches were delivered by representatives from Lebanon, Индия, Франция, Румыния, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Within the Forum the young participants of the METAMORPHOSES VII project participated in the works and the debates. This year the project had as guests members of UNESCO clubs from 18 countries and was entirely dedicated to European culinary traditions hosting a series of workshops during which traditional recipes were presented, belonging to the immaterial patrimony of their respective countries in order to sustain European cultural identity.
In occasion of the dinner parties offered by the Direction for Interethnic Relations and the Ministry for Education and Scientific Research on October 9 and 10, 2015, representatives of the Government and other guests continued the discussions regarding the problems tackled by the Forum, appreciating the high scientific level of the works.
During the official closing of the Forum, the participants received diplomas type UNESCO, (an Alumnus brand, which expanded in the UNESCO Clubs from all over the world as a greatly successful initiative), with a CD containing information about events in October in Romania.
On October 10 a city tour was organized, during which "Элитный Художественная галерея" which belongs to Elite Art Club UNESCO was visited.
The extraordinary concert „Youth, Talent and Classic in Bucharest” offered by the Royal Camerata with young laureates of musical competitions closed the III Edition of the Asia-Europe Forum on Education.
