( May 2nd, 2016) Qian Tang, UNESCO’S Assistant Director General for Education, emphasized ‘’the immense need for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue in these turbulent times.’’ He spoke as a representative of UNESCO’s Director General at the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Mr. Tang discussed UNESCO’s challenges in seeking to promote peace, eradicate poverty and expand sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, high and popular culture and mass media. He reiterated the central role of education as the world faces ‘’the real danger of losing young women and men to violent extremism and forced migrations (…) There is no stronger foundation [than Education] for recovery, and reconciliation.’’
He added that, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, notably SDG 4 on education, UNESCO works toward “inclusive and equitable quality education and {to} promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.’’
He emphasized that Global Citizenship Education ‘’nurtures respect for all, a sense of belonging to a common humanity and helps learners become responsible global citizens in a diverse and increasingly complex world.’’
The Boston Global Forum has been heavily involved in promoting the concepts of global citizenship education, especially through the UNESCO-UCLA program in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education at the University of California at Los Angeles. BGF member Carlos Alberto Torres is Distinguished Professor of Education and UNESCO Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education. Nguyen Anh Tuan, the BGF’s chief executive and editor-in-chief, is chairman of the International Advisory Committee of the UNESCO-UCLA Global Citizenship Education (GCE) program.