Director-General's Consultation with National Commissions for UNESCO in Asia and Pacific Region on the Preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2012-13 (36C/5) (May 21-24)

Hosted by KNCU and South Gyeongsang Provincial Government in Korea, and Organized by UNESCO, the Director-General's Consultation with National Commissions for UNESCO in Asia and Pacific Region on the Preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2012-13 (36C/5) was held 21-24 May in Changwon.

It was prepared to solicit comments and proposals of UNESCO National Commissions on key principles, priorities and other issues related to the preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2012-2013 (36 C/5) of UNESCO, and also to provide opportunities for National Commissions to discuss main issues, exchange information and experience, and develop consultation and communication with UNESCO field offices. A total of 130 participants including representatives from 42 National Commissions in Asia-Pacific region, UNESCO headquarters and field offices, and observers participated in this meeting.

60th Anniversary of Korea's Admission to UNESCO / Naming Ceremony for the "UNESCO Road" (May 24)

The ceremony for the 60th anniversary of Korea's admission to UNESCO was held on 24 May at UNESCO House in Myeong-dong, Seoul.

Approximately 200 guests, including the delegation from UNESCO ,as well as experts and representatives in the fields of education, science, culture, and international cooperation, gathered in the event hall to congratulate UNESCO on this historic anniversary. Several prominent guests, such as Mr. Byong-man Ahn (Korean Minister of Education, Science and Technology) and Ms. Irina Bokova (UNESCO Director-General), also participated in the ceremony.

The Haiti Education Reconstruction Fund (230,000 US dollars) contributed by the Community Chest of Korea, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism & Friends on the Path, and the UNESCO Family in Korea, including KNCU, KNFUCA (Korean National Federation of Unesco Clubs and Associations), and UNESCO Associated Schools, was delivered to UNESCO Headquarters in this ceremony for UNESCO's relief efforts in Haiti. In addition, Mr. Young-Bok Chun, a Korean master of otchil (lacquerware), donated one of his pieces entitled "Sea Festival" to UNESCO. On this occasion, KNCU also held a memorial exhibition of the 60-year history of UNESCO activities in Korea, and a celebration concert featuring Ms. Rose Jang, the world-renowned Korean popera singer. Prior to this event, the naming ceremony of "UNESCO Road" took place in front of UNESCO House.

Korea was the 55th country to become a member of UNESCO, at the 5th session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Florence, Italy on June 14, 1950. Only 11 days later, it was propelled into the tragedy of the Korean War, and Korea was in need of outside help. At that critical moment, UNESCO contributed to establishing a factory for the printing of primary school textbooks, which became a stepping-stone for reconstructing Korea's educational system and starting the process of postwar rehabilitation.

Forum of Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians for Education (FASPPED) (May 24)

With the aim of enhancing the involvement and cooperation of parliamentarians in fostering Education for All (EFA) in Asia-Pacific and planning and implementing education policies in this region, the 2nd Executive Bureau meeting of the Forum of Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians for Education (FASPPED) was held on 24 May at Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel. Representatives of congresses from more than 20 Asia-Pacific countries, including the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Independent State of Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Laos, joined this meeting.

Participants reported the current status of the education system and Education for All (EFA) in each country and had an in-depth discussion regarding education-related issues, such as supporting teachers in marginalized regions, free and compulsory education bills, and development assistance. They also promised to cooperate in increasing literacy rates in the Asia-Pacific region and primary school entrance rates.

The 2nd World Conference on Arts Education (May 25-28)

The 2010 UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education was held at COEX in Seoul for four days, from 25 to 28 May, under the theme of 'Building Creative Capacities for the 21st Century.' This conference, co-hosted by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and UNESCO, followed the first conference held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2006.

At this conference, held for the first time in Asia under the slogan of "Art cultivates sociability while education cultivates creativity," about 2,000 participants from 129 nations around the world, including prominent scholars and government officials, sought ways to increase awareness of the role of Arts and Culture Education in society.

The opening ceremony was participated by Ms. Irina Bokova, the first female UNESCO Director-General, In-chon Yu, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee O-ryoung, President of the Organizing Committee for the 2nd World Conference on Arts Education, and other many professionals and citizens.

The conference was kicked off by a presentation by Robert & Michele Root-Bernstein, co-authors of the book Sparks of Genius, and was followed by three plenary sessions and 27 parallel workshops that were held consecutively over three days. In addition, diverse special meetings and round table meetings for high-ranking government officials from different nations also took place. At the closing ceremony, held on the 28th, the results of the four-day-long discussions were compiled into the presentation entitled 'Seoul Agenda: Development Goals for Arts Education,' which will become a manual for arts education worldwide.

Cultural events, including 'Digilog Art,' held during the opening ceremony, and the UNESCO "Seoul Rainbow" comprised of flowers, birds and fish in the 2010 colors was also used as a theme. Moreover, diverse programs were presented during the pre-event period, including performances by the Korea-ASEAN Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Music Education Showcase during the welcoming banquet. In addition, an exhibition called "Heart to Heart T-shirts Network," in which 2010 T-shirts symbolizing the five regions of the world were displayed, was given at the auditorium of the meeting hall located on the 3rd floor. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sales of the displayed T shirts will be delivered via UNESCO to the people of Hati suffering from Tuberculosis.

Having been accompanied by creative exhibitions and performances combining cutting edge technology and art, along with the presentations and discussions on diverse topics, this conference is expected to serve as a turning point for Korea to upgrade the creativity and potential of its arts and culture education.

UNGO International Activities Fair (29 May)

Hosted by KNCU and supervised by the Seoul Youth Center for Cultural Exchanges (MIZY), UNGO International Activities Fair was held on 29 May at Seoul Plaza, with the participation of 41 internal and external UN-related agencies, organizations, and NGOs.

In this fair, held with the aim of providing current information on international activities targeting youth and promoting mutual exchanges among participants, more than 20,000 spectators visited and participated in diverse events prepared by participating organizations, such as workshops, photo exhibitions, and painting events.

(www.unesco.or.kr)