© UNESCO
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) was established in 1965 to promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture. In 2013, SEAMEO agreed to the creation of the new Regional Centre for Lifelong Learning (RCELLL). It was formally established at the 47th Council Conference from 19 to 21 March 2013 attended by more than 200 participants from 18 countries. His Excellency Mr Truong Tan Sang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, addressed the delegations and presided over the Opening Ceremony, speaking about the increasing importance of SEAMEO and of lifelong learning as a tool to develop the learning society.
This was followed by a Policy Forum on “Lifelong Learning: Policy and Vision”, with contributions of the new Chair of the ASEM LLL Hub, Claus Holm from Aarhus University, Arne Carlsen (Director of UIL) and Andreas Schleicher of OECD. In his keynote speech, Mr Carlsen promoted “A New Deal for Education” with a coalition of a multitude of stakeholders representing not only government, but also civil society and the private sector, learners and teachers. He stressed the importance of teacher quality, new strategies for developing learning societies, targets for women’s access to lifelong learning, better use of ICT in learning, and developing learning cities and districts.
