'The International Workshop for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation' in order to 'Narrow Down the Digital Divide in APEC Region' was held on 29 - 31 July 2002. The workshop was held for 3 days at Seoul TEMF Hotel (Seoul Education Culture Centre). More than 50 experts in the field of educational ICT use from 12 APEC economies participated in this workshop. This event was sponsored by Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS), APEC Cyber Education Cooperation (ACEC) Consortium and USA ED. MOEHRD of Korea, APEC Secretariat and APEC Education Foundation have also supported this event.

During 'The 7th APEC Leaders' Meetings' held in Oakland, New Zealand in September 1999, the President of Republic of Korea, KIM, Dae-jung delivered a speech stressing the importance of the e-Education project. This would later be developed to the 'ACEC Consortium', and Korea would stand in very forefront for this project. Out of the various cooperations among APEC economies, the three those gain the most attention are APEC Cyber Education Network (ACEN), International Internet Volunteers (IIV) and International Research Cooperation.

During this workshop, 20 prominent education related people from 11 different APEC economies including Ms Ana Maria QUIROZ, the chair parson for APEC Human Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG), and 30 experts of educational ICT use in Korea were attended. The workshop consists of two sessions. One was the session regarding ACEN organised by Korean MOEHRD and KERIS, and the other was the session on ACEC Consortium.

During the session that involved ACEN Webzine (webzine.acen.or.kr), which is an on-line magazine written by Teacher Reporters in APEC economies dealing with ICT experience, current status and plans for development of the Webzine were discussed. Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan made presentations for the involvement status and practical use of ACEN Webzine. KERIS also gave a statement regarding the background and meaning of this project, the current status of the Webzine and the guidance for Teacher Reporters. Also, the problems that have occurred while publishing three Webzine issues was considered, and all members that participated in this event worked together to find solutions in the problems, signifying a milestone for the workshop.

During the ACEC Consortium session, presentations were made about existing projects so called Task I from Korea, USA, New Zealand and Hong Kong. The new projects of China, Thailand, Taiwan and USA, known as Task II, were also announced. China and USA explained that they have worked together to create the 'e-Language Project', which helps people learn languages through computers. China unveiled that they are planning to reform their educational systems in higher educational institutions including universities. China also clarified that they are reviewing nations that have applied the ICT educational system and will in time use this for themselves.

Thailand introduced the 'APEC Sister School Network' emphasising on raising elementary school children's communications through networks. USA announced their plan for 'We are APEC Online Project' which will tie together the human resources associated with education of the APEC economies. They are in the middle of establishing a 'Portal Site' where all the APEC economies can log-on.

The presentation material of the workshop will be shown in the homepages of KERIS (www.keris.or.kr) and ACEN (presentation file download).

* Keynote Speech : Dr. Unna Huh(Congress Woman, Korea) Speech download