University of Tasmania, Australia

A public lecture to be delivered by

Professor Rupert Maclean AO

Chair Professor of International Education
UNESCO Chair in TVET and Lifelong Learning
Director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning Research and Development
The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Abstract:

What role can lifelong education and schooling play in contributing to a more just, equitable and peaceful world, where there is sustainable economic and social development for all and poverty reduction? The presentation will examine these matters with particular reference to developing countries in Asia-Pacific.

Although current international action to achieve Education for All, Education for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals provides a useful foundation for action, this is insufficient. It is also important to pay greater attention to devising concrete, action-orientated ways of promoting social justice and peace building, through means such as lifelong learning, skills development for employability, values/ethics education, and high quality, relevant educational research, in the light of political realities.

The presentation will focus on the work of the United Nations (UN), and in particular UNESCO, which is the specialist UN organization concerned with strengthening and upgrading education and schooling in developing countries, countries in transition and those in a post-conflict situation.