News and Updates Archive
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Ramallah and Jerusalem, Palestine (November 22-26, 2006) - After the UEF board held closed meetings to discuss issues related to the foundation's work and policies, board members met with several Palestinian officials, youth, media and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) representatives in Ramallah and Jerusalem in the context of preparing to launch its Palestine pilot. View pictures of this visit.
Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, the Economic Advisor to the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, assured the President's commitment to support the UEF projects to be launched in Palestine. Dr. Nasir Aldeen Alshaer, Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education, announced the Ministry as a strategic partner of UEF in all its initiatives and projects in Palestine. Board members also discussed potential opportunities of cooperation with senior officials of Al Quds University during a campus tour to the university.
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At Faisal Alhusseiny School in Ramallah, board members listened to views and ideas of students about their school environment and education. Over dinner, board members also met with Palestinian youth from public and private schools who shared their stories and opinions about their school environment, and their hopes and dreams and future plans.
UEF board members also met with five leading ICT representatives and discussed ways to integrate ICT into teaching and learning as well as opportunities of cooperation between the ICT sector in Palestine and UEF. Mr. Jamil Daher, Chairman of the Palestinian IT Association of Companies (PITA) expressed his interest in partnering with UEF and helping UEF achieve its mission and goals. In a meeting with the Bureau Chief of Aljazeera Network in Palestine, Mr. Walid Omary, participants agreed that Aljazeerah and UEF will cooperate on the media coverage of UEF's activities in Palestine.
UEF Board members meet with Palestinian officials, media, ICT and youth representatives
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Brussels, Belgium (November 13, 2006) — The European Foundation Centre (EFC) released the publication “European Perspectives on Global Health: A Policy Glossary” in Brussels. The publication sets out a comprehensive framework for a possible European agenda and strategy on global health, recognizing Europe’s values, unique characteristics and contribution in promoting and supporting global health issues, and suggests an approach for Europe to add value and advance global health.
About 40 people attended the launching event among them Mr. Daniel Kropf, UEF founding chairman, who represented the foundation. UEF was one of the foundations that have been supporting the development of the glossary for a year, adding the European perspective on global health.
The Glossary was commissioned by the EFC European Partnership for Global Health and produced by a group of global health experts from Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with the support of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, The Nuffield Trust, Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and the Universal Education Foundation.
Launching of European Perspectives on Global Health in Brussels: Policy Glossary
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Wales, UK (November 2006) - UEF started planning the first Voice of Children pilot test in Europe, which will be in Wales. The Welsh government is highly focused on giving a voice to children which provides an excellent background for UEF and its pilot program. UEF is establishing partnerships with the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) and with the Welsh youth parliament, called "Funky Dragon," which involves children and young people in all its activities and decision-making. Meetings revealed a high level of interest and enthusiasm about the UEF vision and goals and about the Voice of Children initiative, especially about working from a multi-professional basis and integrating health and education policies and strategies.
The Voice of Children surveys will be carried out in Wales in 2007. The quantitative survey will involve a representative sample of teenagers and the qualitative survey will use media, ICT and the performing arts to listen to what young people have to tell about their learning environments. These surveys will contribute authentic evidence for policy making, replicating the consultative process used in the Middle East, engaging in discussion with the government and organizing focus groups with partners from education, healthcare, ICT and media to fine-tune the surveys and discuss the results.
Preparing for Voice of Children pilot test in Wales, United Kingdom
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Oslo, Norway (October 11-13, 2006) — The Universal Education Foundation participated in the "4th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorder: the Developing Resilience and Strength across Life Span”.
The conference planning committee consisted of The World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH), The Clifford Beers Foundation (CBF), The Carter Center of Mental Health Program (CCMPH), and Voksne for Barn/ Adults for Children (VfB), and was sponsored by the Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs.
UEF Participates in World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health
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Calabria, Italy (October 2-5, 2006) — Mr. Raymond Georis, UEF Chairman, Dr. Marwan Awartani, Secretary General and Mr. Daniel Kropf, Founding Chairman, participated in the International Partnership Network (IPN) 8th International Partnership Conference, entitled “Building Futures Through Partnership: The Local and International Agenda,” held in Calabria, Italy.
The main theme of the conference was “Regional Development through Partnerships,” an event inaugurated to open dialogue on innovative and sustainable solutions to present-day challenges in the hopes of building better economic, social, environmental and educational opportunities for future generations. Dr. Awartani and Mr. Georis addressed one of the conference sub-themes, “Improving the quality of learning, skills, training and youth engagement in health and well-being of youth and communities,” which goes hand-in-hand with UEF’s premise of education by all for the well-being of children.
UEF representatives met with heads of organizations, academics and businessmen and to explore the possibilities of further cooperation.
UEF Participates in IPN’s 8th International Partnership Conference
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California, USA (September 18, 2006) — CISCO Systems International and the Universal Education Foundation formally signed a donation agreement in which CISCO will provide financial support for the Voice of Children Initiative. This initiative includes international quantitative and qualitative surveys on how learning environments (education, health, ICT and media) impact the well-being of children. This will be achieved through developing and testing a toolkit/ indicators (learning environment observatory) to study the impacts on their physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well being.
UEF and CISCO Sign a Donation Agreement to Support the Voice of Children Initiative
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Ramallah, Palestine (July 17, 2006) — Following discussions between the senior management of the Universal Education Foundation and the Welfare association, UEF received a Letter of Intent from the Director General of the Welfare Association to join UEF’s partnership platform. Discussions are underway to articulate a collaborative scheme between the two organizations. These discussions come in context of the decision of UEF to undertake a complete pilot of its three program components in Palestine and its commitment to identifying strategic country level partners who are capable of rooting and sustaining the Palestinian pilot.
New prospective partner: The Welfare Association
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Brussels, Belgium (June 21, 2006) — Following discussions between the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the Universal Education Foundation, EPHA and UEF decided to develop a partnership agreement by which EPHA will join UEF’s global partnership platform. This comes in the context of UEF’s commitment to building a transdisciplinary partnership involving health, education, ICT and media towards “Education by All for the Well Being of Children”.
EPHA is the largest European network of the nonprofit nongovernmental community in public health, aiming to improve the health of people living in Europe and to increase opportunities for their participation in decision-making related to their health. In its more than 10 years of operation, EPHA has shown its particular ability to serve as a bridge-builder.
UEF Partners with the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
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Brussels, Belgium (May 25, 2006) - Dr John Volmink was elected to the Board of UEF at the recent Board meeting, held during the European Foundation Centre's Annual Assembly and Conference. Dr. John Volmink was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, and has a PhD in mathematics from Cornell University. Dr. Volmink has been centrally involved in curriculum reform in post-apartheid South Africa and has been asked by the Minister of Education to play a leading role in the transformation of education in the new South Africa. He has recently been appointed by the Minister of Education as the Chairperson of Umalusi, a statutory organization which monitors and improves the quality of general and further education and training in South Africa. He is currently the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Christian College. Dr. Volmink also serves as chair of the Board of MieT, one of UEF's partners.
John Volmink Elected to the Board of UEF
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Brussels (Belgium, May 25-28, 2006) - UEF participated in the Annual General Assembly and Conference (AGA) of the European Foundation Center (EFC). Universal Education Foundation organized two satellite meetings. "Listening to the Voice of Children and Taking Initiatives for their Well Being" (25 May), presented the current thinking of the foundation, its program of activities the Voice of Children Initiative, the Elham Inspirational Program and the Learning for Well Being Forum, as well as the pilot research carried out this spring in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. UEF believes that it is essential to engage children and young people as active participants in reshaping learning environments so that they become more supportive of their well being. UEF is therefore exploring and implementing different ways of listening to children so their perspectives on the learning environments in which they are growing up can provide significant input to education reform agendas.
The second meeting, "Education by All for the Well Being of Children" (28 May), focused on building a partnership of foundations eager to take initiatives for the well being of children and young people. The meetings were attended by 22 foundations and organizations with which there were rich exchanges on the vision, goals and program of the UEF, areas of synergy with the work of the other foundations and organizations present, and also on creating partnerships to take forward initiatives together. Discussions included a reflection on the need for data and indicators of well being and learning environments, how to reach children outside the formal education system and the fact that children know very well whether they are motivated or inspired, engaged by the materials, feel that content is relevant, if their creativity is nurtured, etc. Several excellent contacts have been pursued in the weeks since the AGA and new partnerships are being discussed and established.
UEF at European Foundation Center Meeting shares first results of Voice of Children Initiative
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Amman (February 2-3, 2006) - UEF brought together about 20 representatives of education and ICT stakeholders from government, business, non-governmental agencies, and academic institutions for the launch of its Voice of Children Initiative and pilot project in the Middle East and North Africa region. Within this initiative, periodic qualitative and quantitative surveys of children’s opinions, perceptions, and attitudes towards school, media, health and ICT as learning environments will be conducted. The purpose of the surveys will be to identify the impact of these environments on children’s overall well-being as they perceive it, and to understand better the learning needs and concerns of children.
This was a consultative meeting to present the UEF and its Voice of Children Initiative and pilot study in Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. The meeting sought feedback from the participants on the concept, design, and possible linkages with other initiatives in the three countries as well as on the utilization and dissemination of the study findings. Participants were excited about this new initiative.
Next steps include conducting six focus groups in Palestine later this month. The pilot test of the Voice of Children survey in Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon is scheduled for April or May 2006.
UEF Launches Voice of Children Initiative in the Middle East
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Paris (November 25-26, 2005) - As we stand at the start of a new century that promises complexity and no slow down in the scale and pace of change, learning how to understand, adapt to and prosper in these turbulent times has become an urgent matter and a critical competence. Hence respected bodies in the field of learning and futures thinking in Europe collaborated to provide a space for decision-makers, policy thinkers academics and practitioners to meet for an informed discussion of these issues. Two international seminars have been organized in 2005 in Glasgow and Paris to provide timely input to the debate about the broad direction of learning policy and practice. The purpose of these seminars was to raise awareness about research in the field of learning that is likely to have a significant impact on future practice both in the formal and non-formal sectors.
Marwan Awartani and Daniel Kropf have participated in both seminars on behalf of UEF and made a workshop presentation at the seminar in Paris invited by Jean Gordon (EIESP and the European Journal of Education), a partner of UEF. The seminar was also attended by Hans Akerblöm (Lots ®) an expert adviser to UEF.
Whatever the specific locations of our work, the future of learning is a major concern for public and private sectors alike in terms of greater social cohesion, making a reality of the knowledge-based society and contributing to socially responsible and sustainable economic growth.
UEF at "Futures of Learning" Seminars
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Tunis (November 15-19, 2005) - The digital revolution, fired by the engines of Information and Communication Technologies, has fundamentally changed the way people think, behave, communicate, work and earn their livelihood. It has forged new ways to create knowledge, educate people and disseminate information. Paradoxically, while the digital revolution has extended the frontiers of the global village, the vast majority of the world remains unhooked from this unfolding phenomenon. With the ever-widening gulf between knowledge and ignorance, the development gap between the rich and the poor among and within countries has also increased. It has therefore become imperative for the world to bridge this digital divide. The purpose of the World Summit on the Information Society was to ensure that the benefits of the digital revolution are accessible to all.
The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) took part in two phases: The first took place in Geneva in December 2003, and the second phase was in Tunis in November 2005.
Marwan Awartani , Daniel Kropf, Hans Akerblöm and Jean Gordon attended the Summit in Tunis on behalf of UEF. UEF organized a meeting at the UNESCO stand and gave a presentation at the UNESCO virtual stand.
UEF at the World Summit on Information Society
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Jerusalem (October 30-November 1, 2005) - The first meeting of the UEF management team provided a great opportunity for learning by experiencing as the team worked co-creatively on refining vision, values, purpose, goals, and success factors of the foundation, guided by facilitator, Hans Akerblom, who led the team through the LOTS® process. This planning process for business development encourages “outside-in” thinking (considering the needs of others first) and “inside-out” thinking (considering our own needs), as well as a holistic awareness of ourselves according to the Five Aspects® body, emotions, mind, spirit and soul.
Together the team worked on addressing the Issue “How to develop UEF in a successful way.” Reflecting upon and refining the Vision, Values, Present Situation, Goals, and Success Factors of UEF in response to process questions, the team realized the need to express all of these items in terms that are not too complex so they can be easily communicated and internalized. In the process of working on this, ways of listening to and involving children in UEF bodies and activities were incorporated. Updates are now available on this website, and a comprehensive LOTS® plan will be developed for the management of UEF and its various activities.
UEF Management Team met for Planning Process
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St. Georges-Motel, France (August 12-15, 2005) - UEF brought together eight partners: Academy for Educational Development (AED), Education Development Center (EDC), European Institute of Education and Social Policy (EIESP), International Partnerships Network (IPN), Madariaga Foundation, Media in Education Trust (MIET), UNESCO, and World Education to jointly discuss the UEF plan and activities.
In a beautiful setting in the Normandy, France, and in the spirit of true partnership, we first reviewed and revised together the goals and values of the UEF awards to have joint ownership. We decided not to have a jury to select finalists, but to bring together a short list of potential awardees, per region, to a Universal Education Forum Award that will give an opportunity for dialogue and exchange of people who share the UEF values. Awards will honor innovations that bring together the health and education system in a unique way that supports the well-being of children, supported by ICT and media. ICT and media will also be used to tell the story about the innovation at the forum and beyond and to disseminate the innovation. Regional partners will have flexibility and autonomy in developing an approach that fits their region. The proposed annual Voice of Children survey would be a world survey of children’s opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards learning environments and will analyze aspects of learning environments which have most positive and negative impacts on children’s well-being.
UEF and Partners Jointly Discuss Concepts of UEF Activities
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Paris (July 14-15, 2005) - UEF convened nine individuals from a range of countries and professional cultures: Hans Akerblőm, Marwan Awartani, Munir Fasheh, Jean Gordon, Ilona Kickbusch, Daniel Kropf, Andrew McDonnel, Noga Meiri, and Ray Melmed. Discussions were very rich and covered many issues and questions related to well-being and how to promote it. On the first day the group worked together on individual contributions to the debate, ideas on how to proceed and in which directions. On the second day, for part of the discussion, two working groups made proposals about (a) aspects and qualities of well-being and (b) processes.
Key recommendations of the meeting included for UEF not to define well-being too tightly but to stimulate a process of continuous dialogue, putting well-being on the (political) agenda and setting the agenda, and keeping children at the center of the endeavour.
