2018 CDM Participants
SEAMEO CELLL network with APCEIU
From 17 to 19 July 2018, SEAMEO Secretariat organised the 2018 Centre Director Meeting (CDM) at Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok. A total of 92 participants from 26 specialist institutions of SEAMEO and SEAMEO Secretariat reviewed the activities accomplished in FY 2017/18, considered 15 proposals and project updates from the centres. The proposals from different centres reflected their commitment to contributing to education and learning in various ways within the expertise of the individual centres, serving to accomplish the SEAMEO seven priority areas for 2015-2015 and contributing to the achievement of SDG4.
Most of the programmes that were carried out or will be implemented aim to enhance learning by improving teaching and learning techniques and caring for health. Key issues arising from the discussion were increasing access to and enhancing quality of education, and promoting Global Citizenship Education (GCED) to meet the new period when a sense of belonging to a common humanity is needed for a culture of peace.
Of special interest is the APCEIU publication Global Citizenship Education: A Guide for Policymakers developed to assist UNESCO Member States to strengthen GCED in national education policies, strategies and plans in order to achieve SDG Target 4.7, in particular.
During the three days meeting, the participants brought in a considerable number of ideas and constructive suggestions to enhance feasibility and success of the activities.
The second day of the programme was devoted to networking with affiliate members and partners. These were fourteen prestigious organisations and institutions in education, namely:
- University of Tsukuba
- China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE)
- UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding
- ASEAN-China Centre
- Aflatoun International
- Aide et Action- Southeast Asia and China
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- John Wiley & Sons Singapore, Pte Ltd
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
- Montessori Association of Thailand
- The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology
- UNESCO, Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
- UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education
- Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC)
The networking proved productive with new potential partnership established and a whole array of collaborative activities agreed on between centres and partners, and among centres, promising a busy year of educational activities for the region.
SEAMEO CDM is an annual meeting where SEAMEO Secretariat, centre directors and professional personnel review past activities and propose new programmes for endorsement. It is also an opportunity to discuss new collaborative projects among centres and partners that help fulfill SEAMEO mission and realise its vision of a leading organisation fostering understanding and cooperation in education, science and culture for a better quality of life in Southeast Asia. The next meeting is scheduled for 9-11 July 2019.