Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

To prepare the program/s budget for the consideration of the Board
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To report periodically to the board and Member States on the activities of the
Organization
To appoint the staff of the Secretariat, the highest officials
5.1.1.3 Activities and functions of UNESCO
“UNESCO fonctionne comme un laboratoire d’idées au service des états membres, élabore des
textes universels sur les nouvelles questions éthiques, sert de centre d’échanges d’information ;
en somme l’UNESCO promeut la coopération internationale au sein de ses 190 états membre et
de ses 6 membres associés dans les domaines de l’éducation, de la science, de la culture et de la
communication” (Denis, 2004). A number of international organizations have been playing
active role in the construction of knowledge societies, in this regard UNESCO, with its
competence in education, science, culture and communication has been very instrumental.
Furthermore it has mandate to assist its Member States, particularly developing and transition
countries to develop higher education. The Organization is engaged in the construction of
information and knowledge societies, and to bridging the knowledge and digital gap that exists
between low and high income countries (Bubtana, 2005).
5.1.1.4 UNESCO and other IGOs
The constitution of UNESCO clearly defines the purpose of the Organization as to contribute to
peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and
culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human
rights and fundamental freedoms, which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without
distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations‟. UNESCO is
not the only UN agency, which is working for education but there are other agencies also, which
are linked directly with education sector. These agencies are: UNEP, UNICEF, UNDP, WMO,
WHO, FAO, UNU, IMF and the World Bank.
UNESCO belongs to the United Nations family so shares the same ideas and goals: peace and
security, justice and human rights, promotion of economic and social progress and better
standard of living. UNESCO cooperates and coordinates its activities with intergovernmental
organizations, in particular the United Nations, the organizations of the United Nations system,