Educators Forum
Moderator
Daniel McDonald
IIPT Educators Network
Global Educators
Network Report
Members of the IIPT Educators Network,
and other interested professionals, came together in an all day Educators
Forum. The Forum began with the presentation of papers and related discussions
in two morning sessions. Dr. Donald Hawkins of George Washington University
facilitated an afternoon workshop. The Forum concluded with a roundtable
discussion on future directions for the growth, development and activities
of the Network toward the aim of "Educating for a Culture of Peace through
Tourism." The following report was presented at the Summits final plenary
session.
The Educators Network of the International
Institute for Peace through Tourism convened its second chapter meeting
in an all day forum on Wednesday, February 5, 2003. The first Network
meeting was held in Amman Jordan at the first IIPT Global Summit. The
17 participants of the first educators meeting initiated the Educators
Network. Presently, the membership includes 168 educators, representing
more than 25 counties from all regions of the globe.
In many of the Summits plenary and
concurrent sessions and especially in Fridays round table forum, education
was prominently mentioned. Many levels and forms of sustainable tourism
education were discussed including:
- Formal and non formal educational formats Distance learning programs
International experiential education Empirical and applied studies
- Elementary through high school study curriculums
- University and vocational education
- Private and NGO sector initiatives
- Grass roots and community based programs
It is obvious that sustainable tourism
education, at all levels, utilizing all delivery systems, is imperative
to the future growth and development of the sustainable tourism sector.
Some of the topics presented and discussed
in the two morning sessions included:
- Weaving a culture of peace
- International peace parks
- Rural tourism in Europe's countryside
- Responsible and sustainable tourism - Belgrade
- Promoting peace through tourism
- How can travel be used to enhance learning and break preconceptions
and stereotypes presented in the media?
- The need for adult and continuing education for sustainable tourism
development.
- The need for data banks for internships, service learning opportunities,
and student faculty exchanges etc.
- Publications for various regions of the world concerning ethical
travel.
In the afternoon session, Dr. Donald
Hawkins, the Eisenhower Professor at George Washington University, presented
information concerning an international development assistance project,
which will partner with the IIPT. This enterprise will be one of the flagship
projects resulting from the IIPT Second Global Summit on Peace through
Tourism. This endeavor is an excellent opportunity for meaningful involvement
by members of the IIPT Educators Network and George Washington University.
Additionally, information concerning a recent development of the International
Labor Organization, UNIVERSITAS, was presented. This project is defining
a role for it's 25 university members, mostly in developing countries,
to provide education and capacity building in support of community development
and the creation of jobs with dignity.
The Forum concluded by identifying
objectives to be pursued by the Educators Network in the new millennium.
These included:
- Develop guidelines for the conduct of study abroad experiential learning
activities across disciplines.
- Create a database for study abroad opportunities for education and
research - particularly linking developed with developing county universities
and organizations - possibly related to Universitas program of ILO.
- Encourage universities to use electronic networks and distance learning
resources to share educational resources and stimulate transnational
cooperation.
- Develop a clearing house for educational resources for curriculum
development in CD ROM and web accessible formats for college and university
tourism curriculum uses including sample curricular programs, IIPT selected
papers, peace education selected papers, learning exercises and useful
web links.
- Responsible travel and cultural information resources to prepare
travelers in advance of their trip and to prepare local business and
citizens to be culturally aware hosts.
- List opportunities for student faculty exchanges on the IIPT web
site.
- Encourage IIPT Educator Network members to submit proposals describing
the IIPT at their professional conferences.
- Include the papers and conclusions from the Geneva Summit on the
IIPT web site and CD ROM format.
- Develop an "adopt a county" program with IIPT partner universities
- The IIPT Educators Network initiate efforts to obtain needed funding
or resources to implement the highest priority actions.
In conclusion, as the IIPTs Agenda
for the 21st Century is implemented, the Educators Network will be a critical
link in their success.
Presenter - Dan McDonald
Recorder - Don Hawkins
