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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collaboration <strong>and</strong> network<strong>in</strong>g 22 , its regional <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>in</strong> Bangkok Thail<strong>and</strong> was established <strong>in</strong> 1961.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> function <strong>of</strong> UNESCO Bangkok <strong>of</strong>fice was limited to primary <strong>and</strong><br />
compulsory <strong>education</strong> but later on its circle was extended to all sectors <strong>of</strong> <strong>education</strong> <strong>and</strong> all<br />
member <strong>countries</strong> <strong>of</strong> Pacific region also. In 1987 UNESCO Bangkok regional <strong>of</strong>fice was fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
exp<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> this growth <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>corporation <strong>of</strong> activities relat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> culture,<br />
communication, <strong>and</strong> social <strong>and</strong> human science sectors which led to <strong>the</strong> eventual renam<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong>fice as <strong>the</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Regional Office for Asia <strong>and</strong> Pacific (PROAP). This Office as <strong>the</strong> Asia<br />
<strong>and</strong> Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, it is <strong>the</strong> technical advisory body to all field <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
<strong>and</strong> Member States <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> region <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> site <strong>of</strong> regional programs <strong>in</strong> most areas covered by <strong>the</strong><br />
Education Sector. UNESCO Bangkok also houses regional advisory units <strong>in</strong> Culture <strong>and</strong> Social<br />
<strong>and</strong> Human Sciences <strong>and</strong> staff from <strong>the</strong> Communication <strong>and</strong> Information Sector <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Science<br />
Sector. Bangkok <strong>of</strong>fice is very effective <strong>in</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>role</strong> <strong>of</strong> UNESCO <strong>in</strong> Asia-Pacific<br />
region by collaborat<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> regional as well as <strong>in</strong>ternational IGOs <strong>and</strong> NGOs <strong>and</strong> various<br />
national organization <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>of</strong> higher learn<strong>in</strong>g. This network<strong>in</strong>g is result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> experiences, knowledge <strong>and</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society.<br />
Bangkok Regional Bureau gives coherence <strong>and</strong> synergy to UNESCO programs by specify<strong>in</strong>g<br />
clearly a set <strong>of</strong> challenges, projects <strong>and</strong> activities. Six broad areas have been def<strong>in</strong>ed by this<br />
Bangkok Regional Bureau: Poverty Reduction, Globalization, Information <strong>and</strong> Communication<br />
Technology, susta<strong>in</strong>able Development, Control <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS, Establishment <strong>of</strong> a Culture <strong>of</strong><br />
Peace. Today UNESCO Bangkok is work<strong>in</strong>g actively <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se areas, keep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> view both global<br />
<strong>and</strong> regional dimensions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se specified areas.<br />
In carry<strong>in</strong>g out this mission <strong>in</strong> 46 Asia <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pacific member states, UNESCO Bangkok takes<br />
<strong>in</strong>to account <strong>the</strong> immense size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> region, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g almost two thirds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world's<br />
population, <strong>and</strong> its diversity <strong>and</strong> cultural pluralism, potentialities <strong>and</strong> also its major as well as<br />
m<strong>in</strong>or problems.<br />
Along with <strong>the</strong> UNESCO Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Regional Office for Asia <strong>and</strong> Pacific (PROAP) <strong>the</strong>re are also<br />
regional bureau, which function under <strong>the</strong> supervision <strong>of</strong> PROAP. They are;<br />
22 UNESCO Asia <strong>and</strong> Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (2003). <strong>Higher</strong> <strong>education</strong> <strong>in</strong> Asia <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pacific<br />
1998-2003 : Regional report on progress <strong>in</strong> implement<strong>in</strong>g recommendations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1998 World Conference on <strong>Higher</strong> Education.<br />
Published by UNESCO Paris 2003.