SEAMEO Secretariat Leads Hybrid Workshop on the Science and Culture Action Agenda 2021-2025

Representatives from SEAMEO Centres and Network participated in the Hybrid Workshop on the Science and Culture Agenda 2021-2025 on 27 July 2021 at the AVANI Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. As a back-to-back activity with the Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2022, this activity sought to further operationalise the priority areas under Science and Culture Agenda of the SEAMEO Strategic Plan (SSP) 2021-2030. In addition, the workshop also aimed to identify the flagship programmes and initiatives of the centres under the Science and Culture priority areas.

The Keynote Speaker of the activity was Dr Sheldon Shaeffer, former UNESCO Bangkok Director who was also a consultant during the development of SEAMEO’s Education Agenda. In his Keynote Message, Dr Shaeffer shared that “one can’t see the forest because of the trees”, reminding the participants to look at the bigger picture. Dr Shaeffer also provided insightful inputs and helpful contexts towards the improvement of the Science and Culture priority areas, as well as those under the Education Agenda.

Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, discussed the background of the SSP 2021-2030 and further provided guidance on how we can strengthen and mobilise the priority areas of Science and Culture, building on the inputs of Dr Shaeffer.

Representatives from SEAMEO Centres and Network discussed solutions to various challenges and concerns in ensuring that Science and Culture priority areas are operationalised into programmes, projects, and activities. Participants also reviewed their flagship programmes and initiatives to revisit if there is a need to remove or add new initiatives.

Dr Pascua-Valenzuela, on her closing message, reminded everyone that while we have 21 priorities across Education, Science, and Culture, the main goal is to have an impact to society. She thanked the active participation of the SEAMEO Centres and Network and mentioned that this is just the beginning of strengthening the Science and Culture Action Agenda.

The in-person and virtual participants of the Workshop on the SEAMEO Science and Culture Action Agenda 2021-2025 on 27 July 2022 at AVANI Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel.

Dr Sheldon Shaeffer, Keynote Speaker, and Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, provided valuable inputs in strengthening the SEAMEO Science and Culture Action Agenda