Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other dignitaries pose for a group photo at an opening session of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference.

President Chang Soon-heung of Handong Global University, concurrently co-chairman of the Korean National Committee of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference, speaks at a session of the conference.

The NGO participants of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference adopted the so-called Gyeongju Action Plan, which calls for realizing the aspirations of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Education is a human right, essential to well-being and dignity, and is key to achieving Agenda 2030. Further, an ethos of global citizenship is required in order to fulfill this bold, people-centered, universal, and planet-sensitive development framework,” the conference said in a news release. 

In order to achieve Agenda 2030, it said, the participants affirm: The importance of Sustainable Development Goal 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong opportunities for all.”

“Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship …” 

In the spirit of global citizenship, in which our primary identity is that of human beings, all people, regardless of circumstances, “should have access to life-long learning opportunities that help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed to exploit opportunities and to participate fully in society.” 

“The importance of universal inclusion,” is essential the group said, “acknowledging that the absence of a particular group or identity in text can lead to the exclusion of that group or identity in policy. We have made a conscious decision not to highlight any particular group or identity to ensure full inclusion and equal treatment of all people especially those in positions of specific vulnerability and marginalization. It is unacceptable that diverse group memberships and identities have been used to deny the right to learn or otherwise marginalize individuals. In education, as in all things, the basis of non-discrimination is, and ought to be, our common humanity.”

The conference wrapped up a three-day run at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju on June 1. Representatives of about 1,500 NGOs registered with the United Nations participated in the event. 

True to the theme “Education for the Global Citizenship: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Together, the participants networked and discussed ways of promoting mutual cooperation and how to contribute to solving major issues. 

Among those on hand at the conference were U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn; President Chang Soon-heung of Handong Global University, concurrently co-chairman of the Korean National Committee of the conference; Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Kim Kwan-yong; Gyeongju Mayor Choi Yang-shik; and Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Cristina Gallach. 

A view of a session of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference.

The so-called Gyeongju Action Plan is announced at the closing session of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference in Gyeongju.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban a Possible Candidate for 2017 Presidential Election

U.N. Secretary-General Ban’s six-day visit to Korea was a move to float a trial balloon to run for the presidential election slated for next December. 

Ban did not rule out the possibility of throwing his hat into the ring, saying that he would disclose his future schedule after his term as the U.N. secretary general ends Dec. 31. But he had a tight scheduled itinerary, including a meeting with Korean seasoned politician Kim Jong-pil. He was also a speaker at the three-day Jeju forum, which opened on May 25, in which he hinted at a possibility of becoming a presidential candidate. Despite his official brush-off, Ban became a favorite to win the presidential election. A recent opinion poll conducted by the public survey company Reality showed that Ban topped the presidential election race, trailed by Moon Jae-in of the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), showing a two-way competition.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is greeted by a group of participants of the 66th United Nationals DPL/NGO Conference. (Photos:Handong Global University) 

‘Why Not Change the World’

President Chang of Handong Global University (HGU), concurrently co-chairman of the Korean National Committee of the conference, said, “We’re devoting ourselves to making HGU, albeit small, an educational institution for educating globalized manpower through the operation of cooperative educational programs with the United Nations.”

HGU President Chang and his alumni played a leading role in attracting the U.N. conference to Gyeongju. 

True to the vision “Why Not Change the World,” HGU has devoted itself to nurturing convergence manpower living together with global citizens. It was in 2007 that HGU began to maintain cooperative ties with the United Nations as it was designed by one of universities promoting the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Program. The Program supports the establishment of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence, including education. 

In 2011, HGU became one of global hub institutions of UNAI HGU, and also one of the 10 hub institutions of the United Nations Academic Impact that was launched by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2010 as part of efforts to engage educational institutions in solving such global problems as sustainability and global warming.