The Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) launched this year’s Staff Exchange Programme for National Commissions for UNESCO (STEP) on 24 April.

KNCU has organized the Programme on an annual basis for over 30 years, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and promoting the constructive sharing of ideas and opinions among National Commissions for UNESCO. This year, KNCU invited the Chinese, Japanese, and Thai National Commissions, all of which have regularly participated in the Programme in previous years.

The Programme took place in Seoul and on Jeju Island, from 24-30 April. This year, participants were invited to take part in thematic discussions on the theme of each participating National Commission’s programme areas of particular focus for 2016. Each participating National Commission shared their experience and views by giving a presentation relevant to the theme and by participating in active discussions. The Chinese Commission presented on “The Creative Industry in China,” while the Japanese Commission presented on “Promotion of ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) in Japan” and Thai Commission presented on “Global Warming: Sign of Disaster and Cooperation”.

In addition to the thematic discussions, participants had an opportunity to experience the operations and activities of KNCU, and made visits to Chungmu Elementary School (a UNESCO School in Seoul), the UNESCO Peace Center in Icheon, and Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Korea.

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