Call for participants and presentations: 10th UNESCO-APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education

The 10th UNESCO-APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education is set to be held on 10-11 October 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In addition to enhancing collaboration within the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network (EE-Net) and showcasing innovative EE programmes for young people, participants can also look forward to the inaugural Gwang-Jo Kim Lecture and the launching of a Special Journal on Entrepreneurship Education dedicated in honor of the contributions of Dr Gwang Jo Kim to the EE-Net. 

The 9th UNESCO-APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education, held in Hangzhou, China, on 26-28 October 2023, marked the resumption of the annual meeting of the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network (EE-Net). The gathering, hosted by Zhejiang University, inspired old and new participants to view UNESCO EE-Net as a vehicle to promote entrepreneurship education in their respective countries. 

After a three-year absence because of COVID-19 interruptions, one of the objectives of the meeting was to reinvigorate the network. This was achieved when many participants expressed interest in applying to become the UNESCO EE-Net National Chapters. 

Additionally, some attendees realized that hosting the UNESCO-APEID Meeting in their country would be an effective strategy to focus national stakeholders' attention on the importance of entrepreneurship education. During the closing ceremony of the 9th meeting, Alfraganus University expressed interest in hosting the 10th meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The timing was perfect because the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, declared 2024 the Year to Support Youth and Entrepreneurship.

The recent global pandemic and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) are two major factors reshaping education systems and the labour market. Entrepreneurship education equips young people with the tools and mindset to secure a successful future and navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century. Below are some reasons why entrepreneurship education can be crucial for youth’s future:

1. Empowerment for Success: Entrepreneurship education empowers young people to take control of their futures by providing them with the skills, mindset, and opportunities needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
2. Adaptability and Resilience: Entrepreneurship education teaches adaptability and resilience, essential qualities for navigating the uncertainties of the 21st century and bouncing back from setbacks.
3. Critical Thinking and Innovation: Entrepreneurship education fosters critical thinking and innovation, enabling young people to identify opportunities, solve problems creatively, and stay ahead in competitive environments.
4. Leadership and Collaboration: Entrepreneurship education develops leadership and collaboration skills, preparing young people to lead and work effectively with others in diverse and dynamic settings.
5. Social Impact and Responsibility: Entrepreneurship education instils a sense of social impact and responsibility, encouraging young people to address pressing societal challenges while pursuing their entrepreneurial goals.

The aims of the 10th UNESCO-APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education Meeting are:

1. To enhance collaboration and networking within the UNESCO Entrepreneurship Education Network (EE-Net). The EE-Net National Chapters will present their accomplishments and future activities, allowing the participants to identify potential partnerships, including resource-sharing opportunities to develop EE activities for young people.
2. To develop strategies for effective Entrepreneurship Education for Youth. The two-day meeting will highlight keynote presentations and parallel workshops showcasing innovative EE programmes for young people and youth-initiated startups.
3. To inaugurate the Gwang-Jo Kim Lecture and launch the special Journal on Entrepreneurship Education dedicated to former UNESCO Bangkok Director. Dr Kim initiated the annual UNESCO-APEID Meetings on Entrepreneurship Education based on his belief that entrepreneurship education could address high youth unemployment in the Asia-Pacific region. The 10th meeting will launch the first Gwang-Jo Kim Lecture. UNESCO will also choose several authors from the journal to make a presentation.

All interested participants must submit presentation ideas based on the following topics:

1. Effective government policies and advocacies to promote entrepreneurship education to the youth: What are examples of effective government policies and advocacies promoting entrepreneurship education? 
2. Best practices of entrepreneurship education initiatives in schools/universities/training institutions: How can education systems instill entrepreneurship values effectively in schools and out-of-school youth (OSY) programmes? 
3. Youth-led Startups: What are examples of successful youth-led startups that are a) addressing social and environmental issues, exploring sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and b) leveraging technology and innovation in their entrepreneurial pursuits, covering topics like AI, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT)?
4. Building Supportive Ecosystems for Youth Entrepreneurship: How can we build supportive ecosystems for youth entrepreneurship, including incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, and other youth-oriented government initiatives?

The 10th UNESCO-APEID Meeting on Entrepreneurship Education will be an in-person event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. All interested participants must:

• Apply online

  For international applicants (Non-Russian Speaking applicants), please apply online through this link before 30 April.

  For Russian speaking applicants, you are welcome to go to the Russian announcement of the call for application and apply through the link for Russian online application before 30 April.  If you have already applied through the link for international applicants, you don’t need to apply again through the application in Russian.

• Cover the cost of round-trip travel from their country to Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Be responsible for their visa application. Note: UNESCO and Alfraganus University will provide invitation letters to all accepted international participants to support their visa application.

Click here to see if you need a visa to enter Uzbekistan.

UNESCO will accept up to 70 international participants. The host institution will cover the following to all international participants during the official period of the meeting: 

• hotel accommodation
• meals during the meeting
• local transportation (airport to hotel and vice versa)

Due to the volume of applications, UNESCO will select participants based on the following criteria:

1. Quality of inputs provided in the online application.
2. Equitable distribution of participants across countries.
3. Ability to cover their travel expenses.

The deadline of application has been extended to 30 April 2024. The organizers will officially notify selected participants on 15 May 2024.

Berdiyor Safakhonov
Head of International Relations Department, Alfraganus University
b.safakhonov(at)afu.uz

Benjamin Vergel de Dios
Programme Specialist, UNESCO Bangkok
b.vergeldedios(at)unesco.org

Ying Liu
International Consultant, UNESCO Bangkok
yi.liu(at)unesco.org

• Concept note*

_{* If you experience any difficulties accessing this document, please contact: b.vergeldedios(at)unesco.org or yi.liu(at)unesco.org and copy eisd.bgk(at)unesco.org and eenet@unesco.org.}

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