| UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THINK THE UNTHINKABLE The First International Conference of University Students Tunisia 1998 organized in collaboration with UNESCO |
more than 300 university students representing 89 countries discussed with 50 professionals the Science Technology & Medicine Higher Education in the World and drawn their own recommendations and possible solution to help improving the current system and narrow the gap between developed and developing countries; the generated recommendations were signed by all students and sent to policy makers worldwide and international organizations for implementation; the UNESCO used the generated recommendations in organizing its three world conferences; most importantly, students were given the chance for the first time to be responsible and in charge of decision making; students sat together.. talked together.. walked together hand in hand .. demonstrating real peace, tolerance, respect and love. |
Final Recommendations
“The contributions that the participated students have made for this conference was tremendous and I think we all
should be very proud of it; because when the following recommendations will go out from this conference to policy
makers, we will go in a long way in improving the status of Science & Technology Higher Education which will
contribute definitely to the development of what is so called the developing countries and indeed it will narrow the gap
between the industrial and non-industrial countries”
Dr. Ved Goel
Chief Program Officer
Education Department
Commonwealth Secretariat
GENERAL ISSUES RAISED
1. Gender issues in Science & Technology Education
2. International cooperation and sponsorship in Science &Technology
3. Staff & Students mobility
4. Social, ethical and environmental aspects in Science & Technology
5. Funding in Science & Technology
6. Understanding and popularization of Science & Technology
7. Future development of Science & Technology Education
GENERATED RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Gender issues in Science & technology Education:
- Female involvement should be brought to public attention through education and the media to a greater extent
- Greater awareness of equal opportunity issues in all levels of decision making should be encouraged
- Policy makers should be made more aware of constraints faced by women in science and technology and should take steps to
overcome them
- Greater support by men in equal opportunity issues should be encouraged
- Gender prejudices and biases in the selection and promotion of scientists and technologists should be overcome.
2.International cooperation and sponsorship in Science & Technology:
- International sponsorship should be made more available and advertised more widely and effectively
- The needs of the developing countries should be assessed more effectively by donors and receivers in collaboration with international
organizations
- International sponsorships should be extended to include post academic training within the country of origin.
3. Staff and Student Mobility:
- Greater emphasis should be put on group project work and field/professional placement in student exchange programs
- Students studying abroad need to be made more aware of their responsibilities to their countries of origin, and their government
should provide incentives to encourage them to return to their home countries
- North to South and south-south student and faculty exchanges should be encouraged.
4. Social, ethical and environmental aspects in science & technology:
- Social, ethical and environmental aspects of science and technology should be integrated into a curricula
- Policy making and planning should anticipate and be able to cope with social, ethical and environmental consequences of emerging
sciences and technologies.
5. Funding in Science & Technology:
- Greater involvement of private e.g., national and multinational and public sectors in student funding should be encouraged
- Appropriate infrastructure (educational banks) should be established to support research and application of science and technology
- In certain circumstances it may be agreed that debts overwritten by lenders should be used by the developing countries to invest in
their education.
6. Understanding and popularization of science and technology:
- Greater emphasis in communication skills in science and technology education should be encouraged
- Science and technology studies in each country should be made more relevant to the needs and aspirations of its population
- Science and technology should achieve its goals in close collaboration with the human and social sciences. One way to accomplish
this is through the establishment of departments which train policy makers and administrators to study science and technology in its
broadest, philosophical and social context
- Popularization of science amongst children and the public through greater involvement of the media and higher education
establishments should be emphasized
- Local and indigenous knowledge should be taken into consideration in the popularization of science and technology programs.
7. Future development of science and technology education:
- Innovative methods of thinking in educational delivery and development should be encouraged at all levels in the curricula
- Greater emphasis should be put on student feedback and their involvement in decision and policy making
- Diversity of scientific disciplines and modes of study should be encouraged
- Scientific and technological visions need to be more long-term and not to be dedicated by makers forces
- Learning should be recognized and rewarded in whatever shape or format it takes place
- Access to information technology in education should be emphasized, and technology to be used should be determined by
educational needs and not vice-versa
- Immediate steps should be taken to overcome language barriers in science and technology
- Educational policies implemented should be sustainable.
“The contributions that the participated students have made for this conference was tremendous and I think we all
should be very proud of it; because when the following recommendations will go out from this conference to policy
makers, we will go in a long way in improving the status of Science & Technology Higher Education which will
contribute definitely to the development of what is so called the developing countries and indeed it will narrow the gap
between the industrial and non-industrial countries”
Dr. Ved Goel
Chief Program Officer
Education Department
Commonwealth Secretariat
GENERAL ISSUES RAISED
1. Gender issues in Science & Technology Education
2. International cooperation and sponsorship in Science &Technology
3. Staff & Students mobility
4. Social, ethical and environmental aspects in Science & Technology
5. Funding in Science & Technology
6. Understanding and popularization of Science & Technology
7. Future development of Science & Technology Education
GENERATED RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Gender issues in Science & technology Education:
- Female involvement should be brought to public attention through education and the media to a greater extent
- Greater awareness of equal opportunity issues in all levels of decision making should be encouraged
- Policy makers should be made more aware of constraints faced by women in science and technology and should take steps to
overcome them
- Greater support by men in equal opportunity issues should be encouraged
- Gender prejudices and biases in the selection and promotion of scientists and technologists should be overcome.
2.International cooperation and sponsorship in Science & Technology:
- International sponsorship should be made more available and advertised more widely and effectively
- The needs of the developing countries should be assessed more effectively by donors and receivers in collaboration with international
organizations
- International sponsorships should be extended to include post academic training within the country of origin.
3. Staff and Student Mobility:
- Greater emphasis should be put on group project work and field/professional placement in student exchange programs
- Students studying abroad need to be made more aware of their responsibilities to their countries of origin, and their government
should provide incentives to encourage them to return to their home countries
- North to South and south-south student and faculty exchanges should be encouraged.
4. Social, ethical and environmental aspects in science & technology:
- Social, ethical and environmental aspects of science and technology should be integrated into a curricula
- Policy making and planning should anticipate and be able to cope with social, ethical and environmental consequences of emerging
sciences and technologies.
5. Funding in Science & Technology:
- Greater involvement of private e.g., national and multinational and public sectors in student funding should be encouraged
- Appropriate infrastructure (educational banks) should be established to support research and application of science and technology
- In certain circumstances it may be agreed that debts overwritten by lenders should be used by the developing countries to invest in
their education.
6. Understanding and popularization of science and technology:
- Greater emphasis in communication skills in science and technology education should be encouraged
- Science and technology studies in each country should be made more relevant to the needs and aspirations of its population
- Science and technology should achieve its goals in close collaboration with the human and social sciences. One way to accomplish
this is through the establishment of departments which train policy makers and administrators to study science and technology in its
broadest, philosophical and social context
- Popularization of science amongst children and the public through greater involvement of the media and higher education
establishments should be emphasized
- Local and indigenous knowledge should be taken into consideration in the popularization of science and technology programs.
7. Future development of science and technology education:
- Innovative methods of thinking in educational delivery and development should be encouraged at all levels in the curricula
- Greater emphasis should be put on student feedback and their involvement in decision and policy making
- Diversity of scientific disciplines and modes of study should be encouraged
- Scientific and technological visions need to be more long-term and not to be dedicated by makers forces
- Learning should be recognized and rewarded in whatever shape or format it takes place
- Access to information technology in education should be emphasized, and technology to be used should be determined by
educational needs and not vice-versa
- Immediate steps should be taken to overcome language barriers in science and technology
- Educational policies implemented should be sustainable.
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