Social Inclusion

During this era of swift social transformation, RUSHSAP is encouraging research into the different ways in which the forces of globalization affect local communities, individual nations, and the world. Taking into account highly diverse historical experiences, social patterns, political institutions and cultures, RUSHSAP promotes strategies for coping with the impact of global pressures, related to environmental, technological and social and economic change. Our activities in this area focus on three broad areas: management of multicultural and multi-ethnic societies, urban development and local governance. The regional priority of the MOST program is human security and culture of peace.

We foster high-quality research that draws the academic and policy communities together around common concerns. We also recognize the importance of developing best practices for research, to ensure a sound basis for policy-making to deal with the many and varied challenges of the 21st century.

RUSHSAP works to raise awareness and education about the importance of social and human sciences in creating a more equitable global future. This is being achieved through the strengthening of professional infrastructure and knowledge-sharing networks, information dissemination to policy makers, the media and the public, and the promotion of debate and dialogue on trends and emerging challenges.

Social Transformations programme (HQ page) Management of Social Transformations (the MOST Programme) (HQ page). Policy-Research Tool (HQ page)  

Ministerial Forums on Social Development (HQ page)

2008-2009 Regional activities in MOST and related programmes will be posted on this page soon.

EARLIER ACTIVITIES OF RUSHSAP FOR MOST - Management of social transformations: MOST- Phase II

Research
a) Collaboration with the Asian Association of Social Science Research Councils (AASSREC) to further promote research in the social sciences. Assistance given by RUSHSAP in publication of books from AASSREC meetings, e.g. Youth in Transition book, 2005.

b) Contracted paper provided for the World Social Science Report from 25 scholars in the region listing themes they thought were important for the region. RUSHSAP continues some mapping of Social Sciences in the region.

c) Visitors and interns conduct research on social science issues. For example, a report on a comparison between S-21 and Nazi Concentration Camps, and research on guidelines for the modelling of a war atrocity memorial site and the connection to the UNESCO Mandate. Mapping of NGOs and Asian Studies Centres.

d) Following creation in 2001 of the International Council for the Study of the Pacific Islands (ICSPI) based in Apia, Samoa, support has been given from RUSHSAP and UNESCO Apia to the secretariat for ICSPI in Apia office.

Youth
RUSHSAP co-sponsored the Third Asia Youth Forum, Family – Basis for creating a culture of Peace in Asia, 21-25 May 2005. Continuing Youth activities and training sessions in all fields of social sciences.

Asia-Pacific Social Sciences School Network
RUSHSAP collaborated with Technology, Electronic and Computer Centre, Suan Kularbwittayalai Nonthaburi School (SKN) to organize the Asia-Pacific Social Sciences School Network (APSSSNET) regional training workshop from 4-8 October 2004 for teachers form UNESCO member countries in Asia and the Pacific.  This workshop was held in Thailand.  The workshop covered two main areas – the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in schools and the creation of an e-book on Social Sciences issues.  Upon their return, the participants at this workshop are prepared to run similar workshops in their own countries for other teachers.  There were twenty-two participants from seven countries -- Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand.  Follow-up workshops were conducted by Sarinya Sophia (RUSHSAP) in Cambodia, Laos and Indonesia in 2005-2006.

Assistance for development of social science curriculum in Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam were three related on-going projects from RUSHSAP supporting the strengthening of social science curriculum at tertiary level in selected universities in each country.  Consultations with persons in the three countries were held, the needs were mapped, and visits of specific overseas experts for human capacity building and special courses, were arranged to boost local networking, in addition to advice on the curriculum (2004-5).
RUSHSAP supported the Faculty of Social Sciences, National University of Laos (NUOL) to organize a national expert meeting on the development of Social Science Curriculum,13-17 September 2004 in Lao PDR.  This is the initial step of an on-going project to upgrade and establish a degree-granting Department of Social Science at NUOL.  Assistance for development of social science curriculum in Lao PDR, and a sociology undergraduate degree program was launched in September 2006. Social science textbooks and reference books were collected for delivery; basic technological support.
RUSHSAP decentralized funds to UNESCO Hanoi Office to organize the national expert meeting on the development of Social Science Curriculum, 28 September, 2004 in Vietnam. In 2005 a consultant expert in Social Work helped Vietnam National University to establish the curriculum for a new degree program in Social Work there. Gender studies programs are also being discussed.
A two day workshop was held in Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 22-23 April, 2005, with RASHSAP. Revision of history and philosophy curriculum was made, and expert exchange was organized for special courses. A consultant expert in professional ethics was supported by RUSHSAP to conduct a special training course.

International Migration and Multicultural Policies, especially in Urban Settings 

a) Urban poverty reduction among young migrants in East Asia: China, Laos and Cambodia. Collaboration between UNESCO Bejing and RUSHSAP.
b) Collaboration with Chulalongkorn University and RUSHSAP for training workshops for migrant educators and support.
c) Integration of migration topics into the school social science curriculum in Thailand, India and Samoa, 2002, though holding of workshops and production of materials.

d) Collaboration with Asia Pacific Migration Research Network (APMRN)
UNESCO RUSHSAP was represented at annual Business Meeting of the Asia Pacific Migration Research Network (APMRN) in 2005.  Reports given on contracted research on Impacts of Ratification of the 1990 Convention of the Rights of All Migrant Workers, in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Korea and New Zealand, to encourage them to ratify the ICMR. There were consultations with other migration researchers in the region.

Activities in HIV
1) Research project with extra-budgetary funds project for prevention of HIV among ethnic minorities of the Upper Mekong region through community-based non-formal and formal education, conducted by RUSHSAP in 2002-2003.

2) Promoting Standards for Socio-Cultural Research on the issues of HIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking, 19-21 September 2005,Venue: Bangkok. 110 participants from 10 countries in a joint conference between SHS and CUL, and HIV unit.  This was linked to research on strengthening the role of social research and social science in the response to HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, funded by a UBW project, 2004-2005, RUSHSAP. To advocate for stronger social and behavioural research to inform the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS related interventions. To train social research teachers / trainers and social researchers (students) in the four countries who can contribute to improve the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS related interventions

3) RUSHSAP with HIV unit in UNESCO Bangkok, shared UBW research project on MSM (Men who have sex with men) in Lao PDR, 2006-2007. In a separate shared UBW research project (2006-2007, with SHS HQ and Bangkok), project on HIV discrimination taking place in Delhi, Bangkok and Phnom Penh - Cities linked to the Coalition of Cities Against Racism and Discrimination research on discrimination.

4) Intersectorial collaboration for World AIDS Day 2006 prevention campaign, “The Condom Chain of Life Festival: Guinness World Record”; achieved in Bangkok, Thailand.

Policy, International Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing in the Social Sciences

Regularly updated information about the MOST program of UNESCO is here.  

Page last Updated: 3 September 2008