The UNESCO Beijing Office collaborated with the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, the Changsha Municipal Government, and the Nanjing Municipal Government to organize the 2021 International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Roads: Special Dialogue on Youth Leadership in Creativity, Heritage, and Resilience (hereinafter “the 2021 IYFSD”) online in Beijing, Changsha and Nanjing simultaneously on 17 December 2021. More than 80 youth from 46 countries participated in the Special Dialogue to share and exchange their thoughts, stories and actions on the topics. The 2021 IYFSD consisted of a plenary session and two parallel sessions that respectively focused on “Youth leadership in innovation and creativity for resilient World Heritage conservation” and “Youth leadership in innovation and creativity for resilient and inclusive cities”. At the beginning of the plenary session, Ms. Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, encouraged youth actions and underlined the importance of youth power in her opening remarks. “We need youth for more critical thinking, we need youth for more ambition, we need youth to really consider all the elements that you have learned to build a much better, resilient, and inclusive world. This is really important as we move into the last decade for action. You are really key players.”

Promoting policy dialogue and sharing best practices in TVET and Skills Development in Member States is a key aspect of the UNESCO’s global TVET strategy.  On September 9, 2021, Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) hosted the first workshop on TVET development. KRIVET collaborated with the UNESCO International Centre for TVET (UNEVOC) in Bonn, Germany to host the regional knowledge sharing consultation. UNESCO Beijing was invited to participate at the consultation. The second workshop was organized on October 14, with its focus on the transformation of TVET and case studies. The aim of the two workshops  was to further  enhance the strategic cooperation with the TVET Institutions that are Members of the UNEVOC  network in the East and South-East Asia region. The two separate webinars focused the discussions around TVET policies, quality and relevance of TVET, green skills demand, Greening TVET, alignment with SDGs, TVET standards, quality of TVET Teachers, Financing of TVET, reform of TVET to align with needs of labour market, ICT mainstreaming in TVET, good practices and TVET leadership. The participants at these two workshops presented status of TVET in their countries and discussed new thematic areas such as adjusting to the new normal of TVET institutions and adapting to the impact of COVID-19 and discussed alternative strategies such as on-line learning and distance learning: iInnovation, access, equity, inclusion issues in TVET and improving the image of TVET and aligned with the SDG4, SDG8, SDG 9 targets related to TVET and Education 2030 Agenda.

UNESCO’s support to the higher education sector in the Asia and the Pacific region is focused in 5 strategic areas: (i) Policy dialogue and advocacy, (ii) capacity development and strengthening quality assurance systems in higher education, (iii) supporting implementation of qualifications frameworks, (iv) ensuring fair recognition of qualifications, (v) Knowledge sharing through knowledge networks.   On 11 October 2021, UNESCO Beijing will provide the funding for the equipment provision for the higher education project in Mongolia to compliment the on-going Regional Korea Funds-in-Trust (KFIT) higher education project in Mongolia in terms of the policy dialogue, capacity development and equipment components of the project. The project is aligned with the Mongolian Government’s education vision 2050 and Education Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2021-2030). Under education sector policy review conducted by UNESCO in 2019, the higher education sector reform is fundamental to producing the quality graduates for the needs of the labour market.  In addition to equipment provision, UNESCO will also provide additional policy advice and technical support assistance to the Ministry of Education and Science and National Accreditation Council to reform the higher education system in Mongolia in accordance with policy coherence across qualification frameworks, quality assurance and recognition of qualifications by implementing regional quality tools. The project will be sustained for the next two years of implementation.   The Mongolia higher education project is implemented within the framework of the regional project implemented by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok  to strengthen the Asia-Pacific Network of National Information Centres (APNNIC) and assist Member States to develop or improve their National Information Centers (NICs) to promote transparent and fair information sharing in higher education among State Parties to the Tokyo Convention and relevant stakeholders. It also shall contribute towards monitoring, evaluation and the implementation of regional quality tools and the role of NICs in the Asia-Pacific region in line with the Tokyo Convention and the 2019 UNESCO Global Convention on recognition of qualifications in higher education. Mongolia is expected to ratify the 2019 Global Convention on Recognition of Qualifications in higher education very soon.   

The Third National Stakeholder Forum on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) was held on 25 November 2021 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia under the theme “Digital Literacy and Inclusion as a Booster for Infodemic Immunity”. The forum was jointly organized by the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO and the Press Institute of Mongolia as part of Mongolia’s national celebration for UNESCO Global MIL Week 2021. Mr. Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia, Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office, Mr. Sambuu Boldsaikhan, Secretary-General of the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO, and Ms. Munkhmandakh, Executive Director of the Press Institute of Mongolia delivered opening remarks. More than 60 stakeholders, including representatives from the Mongolian Government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations attended the event and discussed how media and information literacy can contribute to addressing disinformation and hate speeches especially in and after a state of emergency, and bridging the digital divide for inclusiveness especially for women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Mongolia has identified digital literacy and inclusion of left behind groups as national priorities, as outlined in its Digital Nation Strategy. With support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), UNESCO has been supporting Mongolia in this endeavour by equipping policy makers, media regulatory and self-regulatory professionals with advanced knowledge of MIL policy and best practices, and improving capacities to respectively adapt and apply MIL curricula and policy in Mongolia. Prof. Khan in his opening remarks pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic is the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media are being used on a massive scale and on various levels to keep people safe and informed, but at the same time, “the technology we rely on is enabling and amplifying an infodemic that continues to undermine effective responses and jeopardizes informed decision-making”. Therefore, the importance of media and information literacy, particularly digital literacy for all, is more critical than ever. “Sustained and coordinated efforts are needed among all stakeholders.” He stressed. The second edition of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Curriculum Think critically, Click Wisely: Media and Information Literate Citizens, which is an updated version of the first edition released in 2011, were officially introduced at the forum, followed by a discussion on terms and definitions for localization to create a shared understanding and buy-ins at all levels. The discussions during the forum were centered around four major aspects, including access to education during COVID-19 and capacity building for the education sector in the state of emergency, opportunities and challenges in transitioning to the “Digital Nation” and addressing the digital divide, building MIL knowledge and skills to prevent and protect against disinformation and hate speeches, and responsibility of media in social development and importance of ethical and professional conduct for the media sector. Discussion results have been generated into recommendations, including developing a comprehensive national policy and strategy for MIL education, promoting the new UNESCO MIL Curriculum and organizing training for teachers, improving knowledge and understanding of MIL among journalists and media workers, among others. The recommendations will be delivered to the Mongolian Government for further consideration towards a national MIL policy. Under the theme “Media and Information Literacy for the Public Good”, the UNESCO Global MIL Week 2021 highlights the needs and importance for each individual to be equipped with MIL competencies to understand, contribute to, and benefit from information and communication opportunities, and at the same time, advance the public good. Through capacity-building resources, such as curricula development, policy guidelines and articulation, and assessment framework, UNESCO supports the development of MIL competencies among all people. Free and open online courses are available for self-paced learning about MIL. Through media and information technologies, UNESCO facilitates networking and research through the Global Alliance for Partnerships on MIL (GAPMIL) and MIL University Network. For more resources on media and information literacy, please visit: https://en.unesco.org/themes/media-and-information-literacy

“The United Nations stands for the rights of every member of our human family. Today and every day, we will continue to work for justice, equality, dignity and human rights for all.” —— António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General  

On the occasion of the 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UNESCO officially launches the latest version of the Handbook on Media Reporting for Promoting Disability Equality in China.