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- What is APEC ? APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) was formed in 1989 as a mechanism for multilateral cooperation among the economies of the Asia-Pacific region. APEC has a membership of 21 economic jurisdictions, a population of over 2.5 billion, and a combined GDP of 19 trillion US dollars, which accounts for 47 percent of world trade.
- What does APEC do ? APEC aims to sustain growth, development, and improved living standards in the Asia-Pacific region and the world and to promote free trade. APEC provides a forum for high level discussion on a broad range of issues related to these goals, including improving education systems.
- How was APEC formed? APEC operated initially as an informal grouping of economies. In 1993, relations were made more formal - a secretariat was established in Singapore and member economies began to contribute to a small central fund. APEC has several working groups carrying out joint activities in areas like telecommunications and environmental conservation. Discussion of education and training issues takes place under APEC's Human Resource Development Working Group.
- What is APEC's Involvement in Education? In 1992, Education Ministers from 14 member economies met and agreed to coordinate joint activities in the field of education through an APEC Education Forum. Representatives of ministries of education and other educational organizations from member economies participate in the Forum, now known as the Education Network (EDNET). In 2000, 20 Ministers of Education met in Singapore for the 2nd APEC Education Ministerial Meeting and directed EDNET's participants to focus on four priority areas to improve education: using technology in education, improving teaching systems, reforming education management systems, and promoting cooperation and exchange of expertise. In April 2004, 19 members' education ministers met in Santiago, Chile, under the policy theme of "Skills for the Coming Challenges," to foster linkages and strengthen collaborative initiatives in the field of education. The ministers issued a joint statement defining four priority areas for future network activities and listed accomplishments achieved during the period of 2000 through 2004.
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