APEC Symposium

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation was formed in 1989 as a mechanism for multilateral cooperation among the economies of the Asia-Pacific region. APEC has a membership of 21 economic jurisdictions, made up of a population of over 2.5 million and comprising 47 percent of the world trade.

In 1992, the Ministers of Education from 14 member economies agreed to coordinate joint activities in the field of education through an APEC Education Forum. Representatives of ministries of education and other educational organizations from member economies participate in the Forum, now known as the Education Network (or EDNET). In 2000, the Ministers of Education met in Singapore for the 2nd APEC Education Ministerial Meeting and directed EDNET to focus on four priority areas to improve education: using technology in education; improving teaching systems; reforming education management systems; and promoting cooperation and exchange of expertise. In 2004, the Ministers of Education met in Chile for the 3rd APEC Education Ministerial Meeting and directed EDNET to focus on four priority areas: Learning English and other Foreign Languages; Math and Science Instruction; Using IT to Support Teaching and Learning; and Systemic Reform Centralization and Decentralization.

“Education to Achieve 21st Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future” will help establish the action agenda for the 4th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting, taking place in Lima, Peru in 2008.

“Education to Achieve 21st Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future” is a high-level policy and research symposium for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC’s) education-oriented policy makers, researchers, and business leaders to learn from one another and develop new strategies and practices for effective education.

The Symposium will compile the best evidence from research and practice in Asian and Western education systems concerning four priority areas agreed upon by APEC’s Education Network (EDNET) members: Learning Each Other’s Languages; Stimulating Learning in Math and Science; Career and Technical Education (CTE); and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Systemic Reform.

The Symposium’s results will inform the 4th APEC Education Ministerial meeting to be held in 2008 in Lima, Peru. The information will also be made available on the web through the Asia Pacific Network for Education “Knowledge Bank” – an online library of policy and practice from around the Pacific Rim.

The development of this Symposium is a cooperative effort of a number of organizers in preparation for the APEC Education Network’s 4th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting in 2008.

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the Ministerio de Educación República del Perú, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, and the United States Department of Education on behalf of APEC's Education Network.

Symposium preparations have been made by a Planning Committee of representatives from each of the co-sponsoring APEC members:

Additionally, several APEC members have agreed to lead the development of analysis and recommendation in each priority area. These include:

Competencies and Skills

Learning Each Other’s Languages

Stimulating Learning in Math and Science

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Systemic Reform

"Education to Achieve 21st Century Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future" is co-sponsored by Ministerio de Educación República del Perú, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, and the United States Department of Education on behalf of APEC's Education Network.