Suwon Holds 'Lifelong Learning Forum 2020' Online

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City held the 'Suwon Lifelong Learning Forum 2020' online on the 23rd and explored the direction for the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village, which were integrated in September of this year.

The forum, hosted by the city and organized by the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village, proceeded with keynote addresses by Lee Seong-yeop, Director of the Global Future Education Institute, and Lee Seong, Director of the Global Citizenship Education Institute, as well as topic presentations and comprehensive discussions. It was broadcast live through the official YouTube channel of the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village.

Lee Seong, Director of the Global Citizenship Education Institute, who delivered a lecture on the theme 'Global Citizenship Education and Lifelong Learning in the Global Era,' suggested that "the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village need to develop global citizenship education programs" and explained that "global citizenship education is education that nurtures citizens who understand and practice universal human values such as world peace and cultural diversity."

Kong Yun-hee, Co-Representative of Global Citizenship Education Bonita, who presented on the theme 'From Today, I Am a Global Citizen,' also proposed "introducing 'global citizenship education' with themes such as gender equality, disability, and cultural diversity to the existing programs of the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village."

The topic presentations were based on the content of 'preliminary citizen deliberation,' which discussed the role of the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village with approximately 80 citizens using the video conferencing program Zoom from the 14th to 17th.

Park Young-do, Principal of Suwon First Lifelong Learning School, who presented on the theme 'Local Value of Lifelong Learning through Integration,' said, "We need to establish a regional lifelong learning network including schools, regional facilities, and lifelong education institutions," and Yoo In-suk, Representative of ㈜People Practicing Lifelong Learning, who presented on 'Examining the Role of Lifelong Learning Centers as Public Goods,' emphasized that "we must develop diverse educational programs to create opportunities for citizens to actively participate in lifelong learning."

Additionally, Lee Seong-yeop, Director of the Global Future Education Institute at Ajou University, who delivered a keynote address on the theme 'Global Future Education and Lifelong Learning,' stated, "We must move away from dualistic thinking that separates education such as labor, social welfare, vocational training, elderly, and disabled from lifelong education and advance toward comprehensive lifelong education that encompasses everything."

A city official said, "We will actively reflect the opinions of experts and citizens from the forum in Suwon's lifelong learning policies" and "We will do our best so that the Suwon Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village can get closer to Suwon citizens."

Ajou University, selected through the recruitment of operating organizations for the city's Lifelong Learning Center and Foreign Language Village, has been operating them in an integrated manner since September.