The Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) has organised the MNCU Network Dialogue 2023 on 8 August 2023 in Cyberjaya, Selangor.
The programme was conducted in a two-way discussion and highlighted best practices and significant initiatives implemented by Malaysia, UNESCO and its affiliated institutions, as well as partners worldwide. Attended panellists and participants of the dialogue have delved into the best mechanisms and framework to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030).
This annual dialogue was officiated by YBhg. Dato’ Indera Nik Nasarudin Mohd Zawawi, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia as the Vice-President of the MNCU. The Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Office in Jakarta, Ms. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa was also present to grace the event.
The Vice-President in his speech, said education and knowledge are manifested within the various training of skills for work and life. He also emphasised the significance of comprehensive and solid cooperation with various stakeholders.
“We should realise by now that education, in its various forms, can help break poverty’s cycles, provide opportunities to reskill and upskill, mitigate and make humanity resistant against any future challenges,” he concluded, quoting that education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world.
Discussions and presentations during the dialogue touched on the assistance and support from UNESCO and on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), including the components of ESD in developing inclusive educational framework for communities related to geoparks, environment and indigenous communities. The dialogue also deliberated the case study of entrepreneurship programme for youth based around UNESCO World Heritage Sites facilitated by UNESCO, as well as the development of the animation and creative industry in Malaysia, based on localised content.
A presentation centred on the potential of Artificial Intelligence in education as well as rural community empowerment through digital learning was also part of the agenda, whilst focusing on the mechanism to enable women to pursue professional careers, without comprising their motherhood.
This year dialogue has attracted approximately 300 participants from 12 countries and was officially concluded by Mr. Mohd Daud Mohd Arif, the Secretary-General of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO. In the closing remarks, he stressed the need for concrete, doable and multidisciplinary solutions synthesised based on evidence and findings, as well as incorporating inclusive feedback from all stakeholders and target groups. He also strongly encouraged the amalgamation of top-down and bottom-up approaches in overcoming challenges.
The recording of the programme can be watched here.
- The Presentation for Educational Assistance from UNESCO can be downloaded here
- The presentation for Artificial Intelligence in Education in Asia-Pacific Region can be downloaded here
- The presentation for Creative Youths in Indonesian Heritage Sites can be downloaded here
