Institute of APEC Cyber Education

1. Consortium for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation

In 2001, Consortium for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation (ACEC) was approved at the 22nd APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) with four constituents from four economies (Hong Kong china, Korea, New Zealand, and United States) which initially revealed the intention to participate in the consortium. And Dr. YoungHwan Kim, a professor of Pusan National University in Korea, was appointed the chairperson of ACEC. The ultimate goal of this project is for narrowing digital divide within APEC member economies through strengthening capacities of educators, activating communities of teachers, sharing knowledge and information in the field of education.

In May, 2002, according to the agreement of APEC Education Network (EDNET) and APEC HRD WG, ACEC welcomed four additional member economies (China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, and Thailand).

The following are projects operated by constituents for ACEC.

....- Hong Kong China: e-Education Leadership in ICT
....- Korea : APEC Learning Community for Shared Prosperity
... .. Asia-Pacific Cybereducation Journal (APCJ)
....- New Zealand : APEC Network for Education Web Portal Community Area
....- United States: Knowledge Bank of Education Policy and Practice
... .. Asia-Pacific Network for Education Web Portal
....- China: Higher Education Partner Schools
....- Chinese Taipei: APEC Cyber School Project
....- Malaysia: Best Practices and Innovations in Teaching Science and
... .. Mathematics at the Primary School
....- Thailand: APEC Sister School Network

Above all, Korea holds the presidency of ACEC Consortium to develop and perform projects annually. In June 2003, ACEC proposed APEC Learning Community for Shared Prosperity (ALCom) and got recognition at the 25th APEC HRD WG.

The main substance of ACEC projects proceeded by Korea and the achievement of the fields of the projects are as below.

First, human network is developed and on/off-line communities are constructed to be into full activities through APEC Cyber Education Network which is settled and operated under the project. At present, as core members of ALCom, APEC Learning Community Builders (ALCoB) take an active part in the project. ALCoB consist of qualified teachers, learners, and supporters selected from 15 member economies and the number of ALCoB has reached around 600 in total. Regarding on-line community activities, ALCoB on-line community (http://wwalcob.com) supports the functions like e- learning community, on-line training program for teachers, web portal, academic forum, etc. Up to date, more than 60,000 people visited to the website and around 4,000 materials using ICT and bulletins are loaded on ALCoB on-line community. Likewise, as to off-line activities, there are annual International ALCoB Conference and semiannual ALCoB Workshop. Through these meaningful events, ALCoB have a chance to promote cooperation and friendship among themselves, and, in addition, on-line activities are getting advance.

Second, ALCoB Internet Volunteers (AIV) have performed to set up Information-oriented education and also support training program using ICT, workshops, seminars, and ALcoB Group Project activities since 2001. Annually, professors, teachers, and students have been dispatched to 6 member economies (China, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) and the number of volunteers is around 140 in total. So far, total number of beneficiaries by the AIV project has reached to about 2,500 people from 6 economies.

Third, under the project, Korea supports exchange between the constituents of ACEC consortium. In relation to this sector, Korea adjusts the projects proposed by member economies joining in ACEC consortium and supports the project activities. In addition, ACEC publishes Asia-Pacific Cybereducation Journal(APCJ) in on/off-line and embodies APEC Cyber Education Cooperation. As academic sector, ACEC also carries out researches.

2. APEC Future Education Consortium

At the 3rd APEC Education Ministerial Meeting (April 2004), Korea proposed ‘APEC Future Education Consortium’ which is inherited and enlarge ALCom project. In addition, next month, this project was submitted to the 26th APEC HRD WG, in Jeju Island, Korea, and got recognition. At present, 13 economies revealed the intention to participate in this project, are into full activities. Those member economies are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The project of APEC Future Education Consortium is diversified into four sectors: building network, research and development, exchange and share, and education and training. Table 1 shows the comparison of APEC Future Education Consortium and ALCom which is the existing project of Korea.

This project is inherited the existing efforts for Cyber Education Cooperation within APEC member economies and aims at setting up the ideal of Future Education shared by APEC member economies. APEC Future Education tries to advance with practicing the ideal for realizing shared prosperity in APEC. Therefore, added to the existing human network, ICT model schools in member economies are to be connected to build a network to be examined for sharing the ideal of Future Education. And the achievement from these activities is to be extended through the network.
Starting from these practical efforts, experts will be able to accelerate researches for ideal Future Education. Hereby, once again, the achievement from researching will be practiced and expanded through ICT Model School Network. Like the existing project, on/off-line activities regarding the human resources can be maintained or enlarged. These activities are presented on Table 1.

<Table 1> APEC Future Education and ALCom

The time schedule for the accomplishment of each component in the project as following:

.. Jan. 2005. Carrying out detailed plan for the project in 2005
.. Feb. 2005. The 2nd Steering Committee Meeting for APEC Future Education
.. .. .. . . .. .. Consortium
.. Feb. 2005. Building ICT Model School Network
.. Feb. 2005 Publishing Asia-Pacific Cybereducation Journal
.. Mar. 2005 Operating ICT Model School Network
.. Apr. 2005. Convening Domestic Forum for APEC Future Education

.. May-Sep. 2005. Dispatching AIV (ALCoB Internet Volunteers)
.. Sep. 2005. Convening International Forum for APEC Future Education
.. Nov. 2005. Reporting the achievement of ICT Model School
.. Nov. 2005. Publishing APEC Future