In some Asian countries, education investment and development have produced mixed results – high quality institutions coexist alongside poor school enrolment rates. Others like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have excelled though. This panel will discuss challenges and possible opportunities, such as the role of technology in boosting learning outcomes, strategies for improving teacher quality and the role of the private sector.
MEET THE PANELISTS
Dr. Mohamed Waheed Dr. Mohamed Waheed was the fifth President of the Republic of Maldives (2012-13). As President, he promoted democracy and economic development, and paved the way for free and fair elections. He obtained his PhD from Stanford University, and is a specialist in international development and education, having served as Senior Education Adviser to UNICEF and as Special Representative of UNICEF in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2005. Dr Waheed is currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. |
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Dr. Molly N.N. Lee Dr. Molly N.N. Lee was the Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Programme of Educational Programme for Development (APEID) and Programme Specialist in Higher Education at UNESCO Asia and the Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok. Recently retired, she was also a Professor of Education at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Lee has a PhD and Masters degree from Stanford University, and a Masters in Education Planning and Development from University of London Institute of Education. Her research interests include higher education, science education, teacher education, globalization and education, and gender and education. |
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Prof. Mok Ka Ho Joshua Prof. Joshua Mok is Chair Professor of Comparative Policy, concurrently Vice President (Research and Development), and Director of the Centre for Greater China Studies of The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd). He has worked creatively across the academic worlds of sociology, political science and public and social policy while building up his wide knowledge of China and the region. Prof. Mok has published extensively in the fields of comparative education policy, comparative development and policy studies, and social development. He has worked closely with the World Bank and UNICEF as International Consultant for comparative development and policy studies projects, as well as a former part-time member of the Central Policy Unit, The HKSAR Government. |
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Dr. Sheldon Shaeffer Dr. Sheldon Shaeffer took up his duties at UNESCO Bangkok between 2001 and 2008. A citizen of Canada, Dr. Shaeffer holds a PhD in International Development Education (1979) from Stanford University. Having previously worked in several positions in the area of education, he has worked in several international organizations since 1980. He served as Associate Director of the Social Sciences Division at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, with UNICEF, first as regional education advisor in Bangkok (1994-1998), and then as chief of the Education Section at Headquarters in New York (1998-2001). Dr. Shaeffer has published and co-edited a number of books and journal articles in the field of education. |
This free lecture is presented by the HEAD Foundation, a Singapore-based think tank focused on education and leadership for development in Asia.