Korea shares smart learning knowhow with ASEAN

Korea agreed with Southeast Asian countries Wednesday to strengthen collaboration on developing joint e-learning and smart education programs at a meeting of senior educational policymakers in Indonesia.

The country also proposed bilateral working-level talks with Brunei as well as Cambodia to develop technology-based educational systems in those nations.

This was the first time that key educational policymakers from Asian nations have gathered at the same place to discuss school-related issues and find solutions to common educational challenges. The meeting drew officials from the ASEAN+3, which refers to the 10 Southeast Asian countries plus Korea, China and Japan.

At the end of the one-day meeting, held in Yogjakarta on Indonesia’s Java Island, the countries issued a joint statement to make concerted efforts to enhance their educational systems. They agreed to map out a concrete action plan to move their cooperation and partnerships on various educational issues forward, South Korea’s education ministry said.

“Southeast Asian nations showed keen interest in our e-learning and smart education initiatives. They also asked us to provide resources to meet the growing needs for Korean language education in their respective nations,” a ministry official said.

The delegation, led by Suh You-mi, will participate in another meeting of education officials from East Asia Summit member nations on Thursday. High on the agenda at the meeting is the convergence of technology and education.

Korea will seek joint projects with the countries to enhance the use of information and communication technology in education for innovative and inclusive growth in the region, the ministry said. <The Korea Times/Na Jeong-ju>

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