FIFTH UNESCO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADULT EDUCATION (CONFINTEA)
THEME: Adult Learning: A Key to the Future
Hamburg, Germany 1997, July 14-18
Memorandum I
TO: Adult Education Organizations - Government Officials - Other Cooperating and Interested Individuals and NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations)
FROM: Alexander N. Charters, Coordinator, U. S. Participation (private sector) on Fifth UNESCO Conference on Adult Education
1. The UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE), founded in 1951, is a nonprofit international research, training, information, documentation and publishing centre of UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). One of three educational institutes of UNESCO, UIE focuses mainly on adult and continuing education, literacy and nonformal basic education in the perspective of lifelong learning. (UNESCO Brochure)
The UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE) is playing a leading role in preparing and organizing the Conference.
Dr. Paul Belanger
UNESCO Institute for Education
Feldbrunnenstrasse 58
20148 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: (+49 40) 44 80 41-0
Fax: (49 40) 410 77 23
E-mail: uie@unesco.org
2. The Coordinator for United States (private sector) participation in the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education is:
Dr. Alexander N. Charters
216 Lockwood Road
Syracuse, NY 13214-2035 USA
Tel.: (315) 446-2629
Fax: (315) 443-5732
E-mail: ancharte@syr.edu
(Please see attached memorandum from Dr. John E. Fobes to Directors and Friends of AUU)
The Coordinator is the United States linkage with UNESCO for the Fifth Conference.
3. Previous UNESCO Conferences on Adult Education:
I. Elisnore - 1949
II. Montreal - 1960
III. Tokyo - 1972
IV. Paris - 1985
The Coordinator was a United States delegate to the Third Conference in Tokyo and an observer from the ICAE and ICUAE to the Fourth Conference in Paris. He has attended conferences and meetings sponsored by UNESCO. He has also been a member of the United States National Commission for UNESCO.
4. Each member state of UNESCO was recently sent "Guide for compilation of information from nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations to the development of Adult Education since 1985."
Since the United States is not a member of UNESCO, the United States was not sent official copies. The United States is responding:
The government one for the United States was sent by:
Dr. Stewart Tinsman
Director
International and Territorial Services
U. S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 3267
Washington, DC 20202 USA
Tel.: (202) 401-0435
The nongovernmental one for the United States was sent by:
Dr. Drew W. Allbritten
Past President of COLLO
Executive Director, AAACE
1200 19th Street, NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20-036 USA
Tel.: (202) 223-4579
Fax: (202) 223-4579
These unofficial documents are being sent to UNESCO for whatever use it considers appropriate.
5. In developing the United States participation, many persons and organizations are being involved. They include:
Dr. Stewart Tinsman
Director
International and Territorial Services
U. S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 3267
Washington, DC 20202 USA
Tel.: (202) 401-0435
Dr. Raymond Wanner
Room 5336, Department of State
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Tel.: (202) 647-2752
Fax: (202-647-8902
Dr. Ron Pugsley
Director
Adult Education and Literacy
Margaret Switzer Building, Room 4430
U. S. Department of Education
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Tel.: (202) 205-9724
6. The Coordinator has met with the Coalition of Lifelong Organizations (COLLO).
Dr. Judith Ann Koloski
President
Coalition of Lifelong Learning Organizations
444 N. Capitol Street, Ste. 422
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel.: (202) 624-5250
Fax: (202) 624-8826
7. Dr. Paul Belanger has sent each member a package describing the Fifth Conference. To members of COLLO and many other educators of adults, you may expect to receive another mailing from him.
8. Some of our colleagues from the United States are in communication directly with Dr. Paul Belanger or others at UNESCO to participate in various roles related to the conference. It will be appreciated if the Coordinator is informed of these activities.
9. The International Literacy Institute (ILI), officially cosponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the University of Pennsylvania, was opened in September 1994 in Philadelphia.
The ILI provides scientific leadership in training and development in literacy (the basic skills of reading, writing and calculating among children, youth and adults), with a special emphasis on developing countries.
The Institute benefits from UNESCO's international networks and experience in the premonition of global literacy, as well as from the expertise in educational research and development of Penn's National Center on Adult Literacy, a federally funded R&D center of the U. S. Department of Education. A main priority of the ILI is to help build and enhance regional capacity for improved literacy work through partnerships, training, innovations, information dissemination and technology.
The ILI mission is" To provide scientific leadership in training and development in literacy, with a special emphasis on developing countries. Literacy is defined here as the basic skills of reading, writing and calculating among children, youth and adults. (ILI Brochure)
The ILI has a cooperative agreement with UNESCO in respect to Adult Literacy matters of literacy and the Fifth Conference. The Coordinator (ANC) will be in close communications with ILI (Dr. Daniel Wagner). (See attached)
10. The International Congress of University Adult Education (ICUAE) was founded at Syracuse University following the UNESCO Conference in Montreal. Some members of national delegations came to the meeting and met with educators of adults from Canada and the United States.
There are institutional and individual members in the United States.
Dr. John Morris, Secretary-Treasurer, ICUAE, is planning a meeting of the Congress in Hamburg at the time of the Conference. His address is:
Dr. John Morris
Secretary-Treasurer, ICUAE
Department Extension and Summer Sessions
The University of New Brunswick
Box 4400
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Canada
Tel.: (506) 453-4646
Fax: (506) 453-4599
11. The International Council of Adult Education (ICAE) is planning some extensive involvement in the UNESCO Conference. The Fifth Conference will have an important place on the agenda of the ICAE meeting in Rio de Janeiro, October 28 to November 8, 1996.
The United States members of ICAE are:
American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)
Drew Allbritten, Executive Director
1200 19th Street, NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20036
Tel.: (202) 429-5131
Fax: (202) 223-4579
Association for Community Based Education
Christofer P. Zachariadis, Executive Director
1805 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel.: (202) 462-6333
Fax: (202) 232-8044
Coalition of Lifelong Organizations
c/o LERN
William Draves, President
1550 Hayes Drive
Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel.: (913) 539-5376
Fax: (913) 539-7766
Laubach Literacy Action
Peter A. Waite, Executive Director
1320 Jamesville Avenue, Box 131
Syracuse, NY 13210
Tel.: (315) 422-9121
Fax: (315) 422-6369
Dr. Raymond DesRochers
Executive, ICAE
720 Bathurst Street, Ste. 500
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R4
Canada
Tel.: (416) 588-1211
Fax: (416) 588-5725
The Coordinator, Alexander N. Charters, was a founding Board member and now an Honorary Member of ICUAE.
12. Alexander N. Charters has met with UNESCO staff in Hamburg and elsewhere related to the statement on Documentation for the Fifth Conference.
13. UNESCO plans to invite nongovernmental organizations to the Fifth Conference. They include:
a. International-organizations/associations interested in Adult Education
b. Regional-organizations/associations interested in Adult Education
UNESCO also plans to invite nongovernmental organizations to the Fifth Conference including:
a. National-organizations/associations which have a special interest in UNESCO
b. National or regional organizations/associations. These organizations which have a commitment to Adult Education, an interest and experience in international cooperation and a specialty in Adult Education should apply directly to Dr. Paul Belanger for an invitation to the Conference in Hamburg, July 14-18, 1997. If the organizations is accepted, it will be required to name and send the designated number of delegates to the Conference in Hamburg.
Inquiries and requests should be directed to:
Dr. Paul Belanger
UNESCO Institute for Education
Feldbrunnenstrasse 58
20148 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: (+49 40) 44 80 41-0
Fax: (49 40) 410 77 23
E-mail: uie@unesco.org
14. Americans for the Universality of UNESCO (AUU) is providing essential leadership with developing United States participation in the Fifth Conference. (See attached memorandum from Dr. Fobes)
The attached sheet describes some aspects of AUU to educators of adults and encourages to become associated. The form at the bottom of the sheet may be completed.
15. Participants and delegates from the United States must arrange for their own travel expenses for their participation in the Fifth Conference at Hamburg. The Coordinator does not know of any available from UNESCO or the United States government.
There is no registration fee.
16. The Coordinator has been informed that as of this time no observers will be attending the Conference (at least not NGOs from the United States).
17. The Academic Institute for Educators of Adults of the Office of Professional Development is providing some support for this project.
Dr. Scott Shablak
Academic Institute for Educators of Adults
Office of Professional Development
School of Education
Syracuse University
250 Huntington Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-2340
Tel.: (315) 443-4696
Fax: (315) 443-5732
18. The Coordinator has been told by Dr. Paul Belanger that Dr. Pugsley, Dr. Wanner and the Coordinator may expect invitations from Spanish authorities to attend the Conference in Barcelona, December 12-14, 1996.