The Initiative
Meeting of Initiators for Education Forum for Asia· Beijing
6 December 2003, Beijing, China
Finalized on Dec 6th 11:55am

Having participated in the Meeting of Initiators of the Education Forum for Asia ·Beijing, and having review ed the status and prospects of Asian education;
And bearing in mind the critical links between education and Asia’s  long-term economic and social development against the background of regional integration;
We are fully convinced that: a response is required to :

• Respond to the fact that rapid economic growth creates demand for an educated and skilled workforce.

Asia’s unprecedented economic growth in recent years has caused a drastic rise in the need for properly trained and human resources.  The acute shortage of such resources is being felt more and more as Asia faces growing regional integration and interdependence. This problem is further exacerbated because of the huge size of population and the unevenness of Asia’s educational performance. Asian countries are fully aware of the importance as well as the difficulty of educational development, which requires concerted efforts across the region.  

• Further invest in the educated population and provide opportunity for those communities excluded.

Among the challenges facing Asian countries are inconsistent levels of economic and educational resource development and diverse cultures that are pursuing different social development goals. Despite the progress that has been made, insufficient regional cooperation mechanisms have restricted overall educational improvement in the region. Moreover, the emergence of a knowledge-based global economy makes it more difficult for Asian nations to compete internationally. These challenges clearly show that countries in the Asian region need to consolidate their educational resources in order to maintain global competitiveness. The most effective way to accomplish this is to develop an effective intra-regional cooperation mechanism which will enhance communication and mutual understanding; 

• Improve communication and cooperation through education mechanisms across the region.

As Asian countries share related geographic features  and cultural heritages, they also share many common concerns.  Education, as an important solution to these concerns, has acquired more and more attention from both inside and outside the region.  Thus, it is both necessary and feasible to set up an education-oriented cooperation and communications platform in the region, by the region, and for the region. 

Thus, we have undertaken to start an initiative to establish an Education Forum for Asia-Beijing and to begin detailed planning to achieve the following objectives :

• Professional Development  

To assist education professionals and academics, policy makers and practitioners, in both the public and private sectors, in exploring and studying issues that are critical for education development and implementation in Asia, and to come up with authoritative and workable solutions through the holding of annual conferences;

• Consultation Processes

In collaboration with existing regional cooperation forums , to provide education policy-makers in the region with an informal consultation mechanism.  This mechanism will be a venue for exchanging information, experience, and views regarding challenges and problems facing their countries and the region for the purpose of identifying workable solutions;

• Educational Exchange

To develop supportive conditions for communication and exchange among students, teachers, and scholars in the region for optimal use of the available educational resources. Where applicable appropriate to the practice of each country. Such communication and exchanges may be done in the form of scholarship exchange programs, mutual recognition of academic credentials and credits, award of scholarships, the creation of a virtual network and clearing house for information, consultation services, and the systematic assessment of educational quality;

• Financial Arrangements

To explore the feasibility to offer financial and intellectual support and services to institutions and processes promoting economic development, scientific and technological advancement, and talent cultivation in the region by means of training, research, fund raising and cooperation;

• Exhibition

To organize various cultural and educational exchange events for constructive expansion of educational cooperation mechanisms and opportunities, and for identification of new ways and means of education cooperation in Asia.  

We believe such an Initiative will respond to rising expectations shared in the whole region  for a) more relevant, more dynamic, and higher quality education; b) improved access to basic education by poorer children in some regions of Asia; c) further identification and development of lifelong learning opportunities that assist populations to adjust to the rapidly changing work environment.

To help ensure this happens, we urge the Forum organizers to more clearly map and assess relevant existing resources and institutions in the region; identify gaps; and explore a variety of mechanisms which might be established and strengthened in the region to fill the gaps. Specific proposals shall be shared with advisory committee composed of initiators and Forum organizers and be presented for further discussion at the next Asian Annual Conference in August 2004.       

It is with these convictions that we approve this initiative in principle, by affixing our signatures hereon, on December 6th, 2003, in Beijing, PRC.

Initiators of the Education Forum for Asia-Beijing