A high-level regional meeting addressing the state of philosophy teaching and its challenges for Europe and North America will be convened at the Aula Magna of the Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione (IULM) in Milan (Italy), from 14 to 16 February 2011. It will be the last in a series of regional meetings, launched by UNESCO in 2009, aimed at promoting philosophy teaching worldwide.

Mr Giovanni Puglisi, President of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and Rector of the Libera Università di Lingue e Comunicazione, Ms Pilar Alvarez-Laso, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, and various Italian experts and senior government representatives, will be attending the opening session.

The state of philosophy teaching in the region and its challenges at all levels of education will be discussed. A set of recommendations will be formulated for relevant actors responsible for education, in order to introduce philosophy in curricula where it does not exist and improve it where it does. Participants will be given the opportunity to share views and ideas on challenges raised at national and regional levels (curricula, training materials), in light of the full attainment of quality education goals.

The meeting will focus in particular on:

• challenges related to the mainstreaming and institutionalization of philosophy for children; a proposal concerning the creation of an International Network of Philosophy Practices with Children will be discussed;
• evolution of teacher-training;
• the place given to philosophy for adolescents;
• mobility mechanisms and academic degree standardization;
• notions of philosophy and academic freedom today.

The event will provide an opportunity to promote intellectual and scientific cooperation in the European region at large. In particular, experts from Ministries of Education, universities, research institutes, UNESCO Chairs, and various organizations and professional NGOs, all engaged in the promotion of quality education and intercultural dialogue, will be brought together. Furthering mutual understanding between philosophers from Europe, and strengthening local, regional and global awareness of the rich philosophical traditions of the various European regions, will also be on the agenda of the meeting.

The UNESCO Venice Office is supporting the event in Milan and the participation of experts from the South-East European region.

Source: Unesco.org