Energizing Learning Communities through ASPnet

The Korean National Commission for UNESCO held the 2019 General Assembly of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) in South Korea on March 29th and 30th at Chungnam National University. Principals and teachers from 600 UNESCO Associated Schools, and education officials from 17 city and provincial governments across the Republic of Korea attended the meeting, the theme of which was “Enabling sustainable development by helping global citizens to spread their wings through ASPnet”.

Participants in the General Assembly discussed best practices in UNESCO schools, their schools’ plans for this year, and ways that ASPnet schools can help to implement the sustainable development goals.

Mr. Kwangho Kim, the Secretary General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO said, "ASPnet Schools are playing a leading role in spreading UNESCO's ideals such as peace, human rights, cultural diversity and sustainable development within school education. Sharing and continuing to work together as a learning community will contribute to creating a sustainable future."

Current global challenges such as increasing pollution and human migration call for humanity to develop a 'global citizen consciousness' so that we can solve these common human challenges and live together peacefully and sustainably. UNESCO ASPnet Schools are playing a pivotal role in educating students to become aware of this need for global citizenship.

ASPnet is a worldwide network of schools founded by UNESCO in 1953 to implement UNESCO's vision. 11,500 schools in 182 countries around the world are members of ASPnet. 611 elementary, middle and high schools are part of the network in South Korea.