Human Resources Development Working Group - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Sharing Knowledge and Skills to Promote Growth in the Asia-Pacific Region

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The goal of human resources development in APEC is to promote the well-being of all people in the region through economic growth and development. HRD has an important role to play in achieving the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment which was emphasized in the Bogor Declaration.

The Human Resources Working Group (HRDWG) conducts work programs to develop human resources on issues ranging from education to labor to capacity building. The group derives its mandate from taskings from APEC Leaders and Ministers as well as its Education Ministers. The HRDWG conducts its work program through three networks -

Capacity Building Network (CBN):
Education Network (EDNET)
Labor and Social Protection Network (LSPN)

Among the priorities that the HRDWG addresses it focuses on: quality basic education; improved labor market information and analysis; enhancing skills in key sectors; lifelong learning; improved curricula, teaching methods and instructional materials; mobility; and enhanced quality, productivity, efficiency of the labor force.

The HRDWG was established in 1990.

Achievements

The HRDWG's main achievements are: the APEC Cyber Education Network; the Knowledge Bank of Policy and Practice; the APEC Cyber Academy Project; and its study and seminars on Best Practices and Innovations in the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics at Secondary Level. Initiatives in progress are the APEC Learning Standards for English and Other Languages; the APEC Business Schools Network; the APEC Learning Community for Shared Prosperity (ALCom); the APEC E-Language Research Consortium; the APEC E-Learning Training Center; and the ICT Model School Network; the Future Education Consortium; and the APEC Future Education White Paper.

The HRDWG continues to give priority to youth activities. The 2006 APEC Youth Forum was successfully hosted by Viet Nam from 2 to 4 August with the theme "Strengthening Cooperation among the Youth in the Asia-Pacific region for Sustainable Development".

The main theme for the 3rd AEMM was Skills for the Coming Challenges. There were also four sub-themes: Teaching English and other Foreign Languages; Stimulating Learning in Mathematics and Science; Using ICT in Education; and Governance and Systemic Reform.

The reports on the four sub-themes examine different levels of educational reform from macro policy (Governance and Systemic Reform in Education), to broadening specialized learning (Mathematics and Science instruction and Strategic Plan for English/Foreign Language Learning) and the innovative use of new communication technology (Using ICT for Teaching and Learning).

Current Activities

The 29th HRDWG meeting, held in Brisbane, Australia from 17-20 April 2007 began with two parallel thematic policy sessions: - "Recognizing Quality in Education" and "Labour and Social Protection for Growth" - both of which provided important information for participants for further discussion in separate Network meetings and in Plenary.

The HRDWG developed a new Strategic Vision for a 21st Century HRD WG, a Review of Future Directions of HRD WG, focusing on the increasing importance of HRD in the world today and the APEC Leaders and Ministers' 2006 call for on-going reform in WGs to ensure that activities are targeted, efficient and effective.

In line with this, HRDWG will adopt a streamlined and focused set of three objectives¹ to guide its three networks:

Develop 21st Century Skills for All

Integration of HRD into the Global Economy

Address the Social Dimensions of Globalization

The HRD's Labour and Social Protection Network and the Social Safety Nets - Capacity Building network agreed on a Terms of reference and were fully merged in July 2007. The Network will retain the name Labour and Social Protection Network following the merger of the two networks.

Recent working group projects illustrate how HRD, through its Networks, can help advance APEC goals:

Increasing the Productivity of APEC Economies through High Performance Workplace Systems. Held in August 2007, this project is the first phase of a multi-phase endeavour to better analyse HPWS in both developed and developing APEC economies. In the future, APEC could more thoroughly analyse HPWS found to be particularly innovative or successful through this survey. APEC may also choose to assist in improving the capacity of developing economies to implement policy lessons learnt from this project.
Capacity Building for Investment Liberalization and Facilitation. Held in July 2007, this project aimed to raise capacity of both public as well as business sector people who are involved in domestic legislation, policy making and social system development in the field of foreign direct investment. The project also addresses economic reform measures, legal processes throughout the life cycle of investment, (e.g., establishment, operation and dissolving businesses) and other measures and practices to create attractive investment climate
Collaborative Studies on Innovations for Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Different Cultures (II) - Lesson Study focusing on Mathematical Thinking. Held in August 2007, this project aimed to 1) Collaboratively share the ideas and ways of mathematical thinking which is necessary for science, technology, economical life and development on the APEC member economies, and 2) Collaboratively develop the teaching approaches on mathematical thinking through Lesson Study among the APEC member economies.

Further information can be found about the outcomes of these projects and other reports and publications produced by the HRDWG.