The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), and the Korean Council for University Education (KCUE) are hosting the "2011 UNAI (UN Academic Impact) Forum in Seoul" for three days from August 10th at Shilla Hotel.
The 300 participants include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik, President Michael Adams of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), and other university presidents from domestic and foreign universities, public officials, and high-level personnel from international organizations such as the UN, UNESCO, and OECD.
The speakers - composed of professors and high-level officials - will discuss "Development Measures for Poverty Eradication as seen through Korea" and debate on "sustainable development for the international community" and "educational viewpoint on development", including enhanced higher education, aggrandized women power, and heightened entrepreneurial spirit. There will also be a meeting of university and student representatives from "hub universities" that have been selected to focus on the UN Academic Impact.
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik emphasized the role of education in order to fundamentally change the lives of people who are suffering around the world, in order to give them hope in addition to material support. He also mentioned how universities should not only contribute to national development but become a "new partner for change" in solving global issues, asking that the forum play an important role to that end. Prime Minister Kim went on to note that Korea's experience of "the amazing power of education" as it rose from a country battered by war to a leading nation, will give hope and confidence to many countries. He expressed his expectations for Korean universities to play a leading role in the international community, as it did in contributing towards national development, and promised the government's full-fledged support.
Minister Lee Ju-Ho of MEST gave a speech at the welcoming reception emphasizing that the "UN Academic Impact" could be the key to solving human right infringement and unequal educational opportunities. He also declared that Korea would take the lead in "global poverty eradication and education development" based on Korea's know-how and experience.
Being hosted in Asia for the first time, the forum will be an opportunity for Korea to take on further responsibility towards the UN Academic Impact, promoting the role of universities in applying the 10 principles including poverty issues, capacity-building for developing countries, sustainable development, and fostering global citizenship.
source: MEST
