The UNESCO Partners Forum, to discuss ways of cooperation between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and various partners, was held at the African Union Headquarters (Addis Ababa) from 30 September to 2 October 2024. From Sophia University Professor Miki Sugimura (Department of Education, Faculty of Human Sciences) and Eiri Yamazaki University Education Administrator (Office of Sophia Future Design Platform) attended. This is the first time our university participates as UNESCO Chair.
Attending a forum with around 400 stakeholders
For this year’s event, themed “Transforming Knowledge for Africa’s Future”, aimed to enhance interdisciplinary and joint research in Africa, approximately 400 stakeholders gathered. Our university hosted a session led by Professor Miki Sugimura, a chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Education for Human Dignity, Peace and Sustainability at Sophia University.
The opening ceremony of the Forum was moderated by Mr. Mohamed Belhocine, Vice-President of the African Union Commission, followed by welcome speech by Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO, H.E. Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson for the African Union Commission, and Mr. Claver Gatete, Secretary-General of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and then an opening address was delivered by H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde President of the Republic of Ethiopia, who put together the report ‘Reimagining Our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education’.
President Sahle-Work Zewde showed the great expectation for the meeting as an opportunity to consider the need for global education from a regional perspective, with the aim of shaping an education framework that empowers individuals, promotes innovation, and responds to regional needs, in line with the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda 2063. The publication of Amharic and Swahili versions of the report was also announced.
Session hosted by Sophia University
Moderated by Professor Miki Sugimura, UNESCO Chairholder, the meeting was held to discuss the formation of a platform for a sustainable future in Africa, sharing the activities of the University together with other UNESCO Chair institutions that have specific activities aimed at achieving the Goal 4 education targets, especially in the SDGs.
The session ‘Bringing the World Together: Achievements and Future Possibilities for Exchanges with Africa’ featured the following presentations.
1) The University of York’s commitment to education for sustainability by Dr. Charles Hopkins and Dr. Katrin Kohl, UNESCO Chair holders of the University of York, world leading figures in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
2) On education to foster Intercultural Competence, by Prof. Dr. Darla Deardorff, Chairperson of Stellenbosch University, and an advocate of Story Circles.
3) On the Africa-Asia Inter-University Dialogue Network for Educational Development (A-A Dialogue) by Prof. Kazuhiro Yoshida (Hiroshima University).
4) On Youth activities including the Mock African Union Conference, Africa Weeks, and the practical program ‘Learning from Africa’ by Eri Yamazaki University Education Administrator (Sophia University).
Following presentations by each institution, Ms. Salma Ahmed (Discussant) addressed the importance of dialogue from the perspective of being a diaspora herself. In the discussion that followed, the need for interactive research and activities was emphasized, as research institutions play a vital role in education, research, and community engagement to promote peacebuilding, human rights, and sustainability.
Meetings and discussions with officials from various organizations
At the time of the conference and during their stay, the participants met with officials from various international organizations to report and share information on the University’s efforts as UNESCO Chair and the development of global education, and to exchange opinions on further collaboration in the future.
On 3 October, a symposium commemorating World Teachers’ Day (organized by the African Union Commission and UNESCO IICBA) was held as a joint event, with Yamazaki University Education Administrator in attendance. Focusing on the ‘voice of teachers’ in education, a wide range of discussions took place, including specific policies and the nature of teacher training based on the Ethiopian case study. In the discussions among the participants, our university’s commitment to human dignity as UNESCO Chair was shared, and all agreed that such an aspect is essential in the context of teacher education as well.
In light of our participation in this conference, we will continue to further develop our activities as UNESCO Chair through collaboration and joint research between UNESCO Chair institutions such as Stellenbosch University, the University of York, and the International Islamic University Malaysia.