KEYNOTE: The Power of Partnerships Progressing Together in the Asia Pacific

The Power of Partnerships: Progressing Together in the Asia-Pacific
Libby Giles & Karena Menzie-Ballantyne

Monitoring shared at the Asia Pacific Meeting on Education 2030 (AMED6) indicates that, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2062 to achieve SDG 4. This troubling statement highlights that, if we are to have any chance of meeting the 2030 Agenda, we need to honour SDG 17 and form authentic partnerships within countries, across regions and globally.

SUMMARY

Implementation Strategies
🎯Establish a hub of excellence prioritizing the Pacific within the Asia-Pacific region to address unique contextual challenges in achieving SDG 4.
🔄Leverage the UNESCO Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development recommendation as a driver for implementing global citizenship education in the Asia-Pacific region.
🌐Adopt a holistic, lifelong approach to education, taking a global citizenship perspective to implement the UNESCO recommendation in the Asia-Pacific context.

Partnership Building
🤝Form partnerships with individuals who share universal values but offer diverse perspectives to ensure a well-rounded approach to global citizenship education.
👂Listen to partners' perspectives, gain confidence to offer your own, and act on challenges and contexts to build effective partnerships.
🔍Engage critical friends who provide perspective and challenge to ensure partnerships are moving in the right direction.

Global Citizenship Education Concepts
🌍Recognize global citizenship education as an ecosystem connecting peace, climate, and sustainable development education.
🏛️Utilize the UNESCO document to explain the complexity of global citizenship education, addressing common misunderstandings.
🌱Emphasize stewardship of land and natural treasures, connecting ancestral protection to future generations.

Cultural and Collaborative Approaches
🗣️Create safe spaces for open dialogue with diverse cultures and religions to foster collaboration in global citizenship education.
🤲Embrace responsibility as a global citizen to listen, offer perspectives, and act on challenges within various contexts.
⏳Acknowledge the current progress rate, which suggests the Asia-Pacific region may take until 2062 to achieve SDG 4, emphasizing the need for accelerated action.