Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
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5. Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s Organization for International Co-operation <strong>in</strong> <strong>Higher</strong> Education<br />
6. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation<br />
7. Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency<br />
5.1.2 Role <strong>of</strong> UNESCO <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> higher <strong>education</strong><br />
In <strong>the</strong> UN system no agency o<strong>the</strong>r than UNESCO is work<strong>in</strong>g directly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> higher<br />
<strong>education</strong> <strong>and</strong> it is <strong>the</strong> only UN body with a m<strong>and</strong>ate to support national capacity-build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> member states (Davis & Mutch, 2006). Likewise UNESCO is among <strong>the</strong><br />
very few <strong>in</strong>tergovernmental organizations (IGOs), which are engaged <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong><br />
higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> all parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. This Organization aims to be a world leader <strong>in</strong> higher<br />
<strong>education</strong>, reforms <strong>and</strong> transformation, by play<strong>in</strong>g an effective <strong>role</strong> <strong>and</strong> by act<strong>in</strong>g as laboratory <strong>of</strong><br />
ideas. UNESCO performs many activities to develop higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> its member <strong>countries</strong><br />
that ranges from support<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> policy reforms, promot<strong>in</strong>g capacity development, establish<strong>in</strong>g<br />
UNESCO Chairs <strong>and</strong> Networks, assist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> quality assurance, shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>and</strong> data,<br />
to promot<strong>in</strong>g access to digital technologies (Bubtana, 2005).<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce its <strong>in</strong>ception, <strong>in</strong> 1946, UNESCO has been work<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> promotion <strong>and</strong> development <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>education</strong> at levels <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g higher <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. In August 1948 a preparatory<br />
conference <strong>of</strong> representatives <strong>of</strong> universities was organized by UNESCO <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> collaboration <strong>the</strong><br />
Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s government. The ma<strong>in</strong> objective <strong>of</strong> this conference was to establish an International<br />
Association <strong>of</strong> Universities (IAU). 118 representatives <strong>of</strong> 44 <strong>countries</strong> attended this conference.<br />
(Report ED /3). In 1949 from 19 th to 25 th June UNESCO convened First International<br />
Conference on Adult Education with <strong>the</strong> collaboration <strong>of</strong> Danish government, Second<br />
Conference on Adult Education was held <strong>in</strong> 1960 <strong>in</strong> Montreal, third conference <strong>of</strong> this series was<br />
held <strong>in</strong> Tokyo <strong>in</strong> 1972, while 4 th conference held <strong>in</strong> Paris <strong>in</strong>1985. In 1960 UNESCO arranged<br />
three m<strong>in</strong>isterial conferences were held <strong>in</strong> different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world to spell out <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>and</strong><br />
extent <strong>of</strong> needs <strong>in</strong> <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> Asia, <strong>the</strong> Arab states <strong>and</strong> Africa. For Asia this conference held <strong>in</strong><br />
Karachi, for Arab states <strong>in</strong> Beirut <strong>and</strong> for Africa <strong>in</strong> Addis Ababa 19<br />
19 Source: UNESCO Archives (ED/12), (ED/177), (ED/MD/25), (ED.85/CONF.210), (ED/173), (ED/ Arab States/7<br />
Rev) <strong>and</strong> (ED/174,180,181)