[apeid.higher_education.bgk] Statement on COVID-19 by Parties to the Tokyo Convention (November 2020)

From Libing Wang, Secretariat of the Tokyo Convention Committee, UNESCO Bangkok

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

Warm greetings from UNESCO Bangkok.

 

I am thrilled to share with you a new Statement on COVID-19 by Parties to the Tokyo Convention. As agreed by the nine Parties to the Tokyo Convention, the 2020s must not become a decade of lost opportunity for cross-border higher education.

 

After a six-week consultation and dialogue, Parties agreed to a substantive Statement about the importance of confronting COVID-19 by strengthening cooperation in qualifications recognition in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Fully respecting the autonomy of domestic decision-makers, Parties to the Tokyo Convention shared a commitment to protecting the rights of an individual to have their studies and qualifications recognized and/or assessed fairly and transparently, including those using non-traditional modes such as online and blended learning.

 

We would greatly appreciate your help with outreach and promotion in your countries:

• The full Statement is attached and online: https://bangkok.unesco.org/content/statement-covid-19-parties-tokyo-convention
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unescobangkok/photos/a.284288554916903/3807165802629143/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/unescobangkok/status/1326389465967960065
• University World News: Tokyo Convention parties want online learning recognised

 

Going forward, UNESCO invites all countries that have not yet ratified the Tokyo Convention to share your progress and work plans with us to complete ratification of the Tokyo Convention and join the new Asia-Pacific Network of National Information Centres (APNNIC). The portal for APNNIC is due to launch on 17 November 2020 and we welcome further participation from higher education authorities in charge of higher education and recognition issues in your country (event registration details here).

 

For technical assistance at national level or to share work plans, please feel free to contact me or the higher education team in Bangkok anytime.  

 

Thank you,

 

Libing

 

		Libing Wang, PhD Chief, Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development (EISD) Head a.i., Executive Office UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization		Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building 920 Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel.: +66 23 91 05 77 Ext 212 Fax: +66 23 91 08 66 www.unesco.org/bangkok