South Korea to host APEC education ministerial meeting on Jeju Island
South Korea will host the 7th APEC Education Ministers' Meeting from Tuesday to Thursday at the Jeju International Convention Center, marking the first such gathering in nine years since the previous session in Peru.
As the chair of this year's APEC, South Korea's Ministry of Education will lead the event, with education ministers and officials from all 21 APEC member economies, including the United States, China, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Australia and Mexico, set to attend. Over 400 domestic and international education experts are also expected to participate.
Under the theme of bridging educational gaps and fostering sustainable growth in the digital age, this year's meeting aims to explore future directions for education and to strengthen international collaboration within the region.
The main ministerial sessions will take place on Wednesday, with different themes on innovation, connection and prosperity. Topics will respectively include the integration of AI and digital technology into education, expanding global cooperation and equitable access, and enhancing quality education for sustainable economic development.
Ahead of the ministerial meeting, a Global Education Reform Conference will be held on Tuesday as an official APEC side event, where scholars and policymakers will discuss educational innovation and cross-border cooperation in the digital age.
South Korea will showcase its AI digital textbooks and Regional Innovation System & Education initiatives as part of its broader educational reforms.
The conference will also feature an education innovation exhibition showcasing Korea's nine major education reform initiatives, including immersive experiences of AI-integrated classrooms and STEM projects.
Vice Education Minister Oh Seok-hwan emphasized that the event 'will not only serve as a platform for sharing Korea's accumulated experience in educational innovation, but also as a new starting point to find directions for global educational transformation in the digital era.'
This marks the second time South Korea has hosted the APEC Education Ministers' Meeting, following the 2012 session in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
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