By Kim Bo-eun
Member states of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) agreed on Wednesday to boost exchanges of online courses, at the 6th Asia-Europe Education Ministerial Meeting in Seoul.
The meeting, held from Tuesday through Wednesday, was attended by representatives including ministers and vice ministers from 44 countries including Switzerland, Ireland, China, Japan and Russia.
The participating member states agreed to adopt the Seoul Declaration, which outlines efforts to promote the use of online courses, expand personnel exchanges between Asia and Europe and enhance youth employment.
“We have agreed to strengthen cooperation through the use of information and communication technology including online courses, as an innovative means of education and learning,” Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Kim Sang-kon said in a press conference at the Shilla Hotel, Wednesday.
Thirteen member states agreed to develop content for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), establish criteria to control the quality of the courses and set up a network among MOOC experts of member states.
MOOCs were first introduced in 2006 and have become a popular mode of learning, due to characteristics that allow unlimited participation, open access via the internet and facilitate interactions between students and professors.
The “MOOC Initiative” is the first attempt at establishing a platform through international cooperation.
The member states also agreed to make efforts to draw up polices enabling the recognition of diverse credits and degrees, as well as overseas adjustment to promote student exchanges.
In addition, they pledged to innovate secondary education and strengthen life-long education and job training to prepare young people for the job market in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.