ICDE visits UNED Costa Rica to plan the upcoming ICDE World Conference 2023
ICDE and the UNED Costa Rica Rector and executive management team.
On 9-13 October, the ICDE Secretary General, Torunn Gjelsvik, and Senior Adviser for Membership and Communication with ICDE, Sophia Javaid, travelled to Costa Rica and visited our member and host for the 29th ICDE World Conference 2023, UNED Costa Rica. The purpose of the visit was to meet with the host institution, and plan for the upcoming ICDE World Conference, taking place on 6-10 November 2023.
At the beginning of the visit, Ms. Gjelsvik and Ms. Javaid met with the Rector of UNED Costa Rica, Rodrigo Arias Camacho, and the executive management team at UNED to jointly plan the 29th ICDE World Conference 2023. Learn more about the conference, register your interest, and stay updated on call for submissions and registration deadlines by clicking here.
UNED Costa Rica and ICDE met with key regional associations in the region to discuss the value and opportunities for collaboration the ICDE World Conference 2023 will bring to the region. All participants acknowledged the importance of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning (OFDL) and bringing the issue onto the political agenda in Latin America through the ICDE World Conference. There was a shared understanding between all parties of the need to improve the understanding and reputation of OFDL following the Covid-19 pandemic and how quality OFDL is central to the future development and sustainability of the field.
Meeting with key regional association in the Latin American region. Present: Colombian Association of Technological Education Institutions (ACIET); AIESAD; CALED; Mexican Association of Institutions of Distance Education (ECOESAD); IESALC of UNESCO; Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI); UDUAL México; UNIR Mexico; UTPL Equador; Unirede Brazil; CSUCA Guatemala; UNED Costa Rica; TAM Costa Rica; and ICDE Board Member Prof. Carlos Oliveira.
“ICDE is very grateful that UNED Costa Rica will be hosting our next World Conference in San José. As Latin America currently is one of ICDEs prioritised regions, it’s of significant importance that we are able to convene our whole global community here in 2023!”
Highlights from the visit
Meeting with Costa Rican Ministry of National Planning.
As part of the visit, ICDE and UNED met with a representative from the Costa Rican Ministry of National Planning, Milton Alfaro. Mr. Alfaro explained that the National plan for development and public investment 2023 – 2026 is to be published in November 2022, and that the plan aims to assist in the coordination of the national achievements towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will be the first time Costa Rica has created a strategic plan for short, medium and long term implementation of the SDGs, including SDG 4; ensuring inclusive, quality education for all.
Mr. Alfaro also outlined the current main challenges for education in Costa Rica. These included: digital competency for students and professors, ensuring inclusive education for all groups including indigenous populations, and meeting the increasing demand for graduates in STEM disciplines. He noted the relevance of the ICDE World Conference and more generally, the field of OFDL as a route to help tackle both their national aims and challenges.
In addition to meeting key regional associations in the Latin American region and the Costa Rican Ministry of National Planning, Gjelsvik and Javaid also visited the convention centre where the 29th ICDE World Conference 2023 will take place.
ICDE and UNED look forward to collaborating with the Costa Rican Ministry on the ICDE World Conference 2023 and its results next year, which will coincide with the anniversary of the implementation of their strategic plan.
