AASSREC attends UNESCO Expert Workshop and Conference on reimagining ‘development’ models in Asia-Pacific

From 22-23 June 2023, AASSREC Vice-President Professor Young Ryeol Park joined social and human sciences experts from across South-East Asia gathered in Bangkok for a two-day consultation workshop and public conference, Reimagining ‘Development’ Models in Asia-Pacific – Making the Social and Human Sciences Count.

Organised by the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Unit of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok), in collaboration with the UNESCO regional offices of Almaty (Kazakhstan), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kathmandu (Nepal), and New Delhi (India), the event engaged intellectuals, scholars, policy-makers and practitioners from the region on one key question: Are the ‘development’ models that have been used for the last few decades sustainable and conducive to inclusion, justice, and protection of the common good? Have these models led to tangible improvement of people’s quality of life in their respective communities?

During the invitation-only workshop, participants discussed the UNESCO SHS 2023 Position Paper in order to fine-tune UNESCO’s MOST Programme in response to the key challenges the various regions of Asia and the Pacific are facing.    They also explored how UNESCO can improve and foster the research-policy nexus in support of South-East Asian governments, academia and CSOs in their shaping of policies that are more people-centred, inclusive and sustainable.     

The Regional Office in Bangkok is finalizing the Position Paper and report of the two-day event which will be shared in due course. For further information including the workshop concept note and program, click here.