November 09, 2020

The Virtual GCED Talks with UNESCO Chairs was held on November 2nd under the theme ‘Rethinking GCED and the Future of Education’. Vice President for Global Engagement Strategy and UNESCO Chairholder in Research and Education for Sustainable Development YOKOI Atsufumi joined the talks as an esteemed panelist representing the Asia-Pacific region.

The online conference was held in conjunction with the 210th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, which took place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France and the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea from November 4-18. Organized by the joint efforts of the Korean government, UNESCO Headquarters, and APCEIU, the Virtual GCED Talks with UNESCO Chairs was simultaneously broadcast from Paris and Seoul and livestreamed globally.

Vice President Yokoi took part in a lively discussion where panelists representing 6 regions from 5 continents exchanged their views on the future of GCED. Additionally, students from the institutions represented by panelists were invited to attend as observers, giving Okayama University student MATSUMOTO Sota (4th year, Faculty of Law) the opportunity to participate. Regarding his role in this year’s UNESCO’s world conference, Vice President Yokoi commented, “This experience made me reconsider the importance of maintaining a global mindset when conceptualizing the role and direction of education. To that extent, I believe that the collaboration between Okayama University and our local community to advance the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) under the framework provided by the Earth Charter can be further developed in the near future by integrating GCED. My hope is that Okayama will break new ground as a global hub for sustainability and well-being of all”.

Okayama University will continue to deepen its exchange with APCEIU and the Earth Charter International (ECI) through our comprehensive agreement to promote proactive and concrete efforts toward a more just, sustainable, and peaceful global society.