EvalYouth Asia’s Post

From Kyrgyz Mountains to American Classrooms: Why Accessible Education Matters Growing up in Kyrgyzstan, education wasn't a guarantee. Resources were scarce, and sometimes the dream of higher learning felt like a distant star. But thanks to incredible teachers who saw potential in every student, I clawed my way to a scholarship that brought me across the globe to pursue my Master's degree here in the US. This journey has opened my eyes to the transformative power of education. Back home, brilliant minds often go untapped simply because of limited opportunities. It's a tragedy, not just for those individuals, but for the progress of our entire society. Here's why I'm so passionate about making education accessible for all: • Unlocking Potential: Every child deserves the chance to discover their talents and passions. Education provides the tools – knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills – to turn those sparks into real-world contributions. • Building Bridges: In a world facing complex challenges, a well-educated population is essential. Education fosters empathy and intercultural understanding, allowing us to work together across borders and backgrounds to find solutions. • Leveling the Playing Field: Access to education shouldn't be a privilege. It should be the foundation for a just society where everyone has the chance to succeed, regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic background. My journey from the Kyrgyz Republicy to an American classroom is a testament to the power of education. Let's invest in making quality education available to everyone, everywhere. It's the key to unlocking not just individual potential, but a brighter future for us all. #education #equality #opportunity #globaldevelopment

What were the odds of me earning a Bachelor’s degree? Probably 50% lower than my peers. A Master’s degree? Five years ago, I didn’t dare to even think of doing postgraduate research. A PhD? The odds were almost zero. Yet here I am today, at 28, in the final stages of completing my PhD—thinking about what’s next. Recently, someone asked me: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗣𝗵𝗗?” As someone from Sarawak and the Dayak tribe, pursuing university education is a luxury that many can’t even afford to consider. For many in the community, the path after SPM is clear: 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠. The reality for so many young people in the Dayak community—many of whom are incredibly eager, resilient, and brimming with potential—is the harsh cycle of poverty that persists across generations. It’s easy to say, “𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵.” But when putting food on the table is a daily struggle, the unspoken rule is that everyone must pull their weight by 18. I made it through high school and university by doing odd jobs and, eventually, securing scholarships for my postgraduate studies. Nearly 10 years in university was anything but easy. I’m not here to preach the gospel of: “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘨𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵.” That can feel tone-deaf for those facing the harsh realities of poverty, family complexities, and barriers of structural inequalities that are hard to untangle. Instead, my commitment for the years ahead is this: I want to build a culture of mentorship among the Dayak community, working alongside stakeholders who see the same untapped potential I do. My goal is to connect with young Dayak students and adults who are hungry for more and show them what’s possible. 𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗣𝗵𝗗? It’s this: I want to lead the way for young Dayak minds. I want to show them that if someone like me—who faced similar limitations and came from the same community—can find success in education, they can too. As I reflect on this journey, I leave you with one question: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?

🌐 #UN2.0 Week #Recap: Reimagining #Education: Connectivity, Digital, and Foresight for Inclusivity 📚🚀 One of the main sessions, "Reimagining Education: Connectivity, Digital, and Foresight for Inclusivity," was facilitated by Oliver Liang (ILO). He led a panel into how foresight, technology, and innovative strategies could radically enhance educational inclusivity. Key Takeaways: 1. Mariagrazia Squicciarini (UNESCO) highlighted the critical role of foresight and future literacy in addressing global challenges like education inequality and climate change. UNESCO’s collaboration with the Philippines Department of Education in implementing futures labs and masterclasses is a pioneering step towards integrating future thinking into K-12 curricula, aiming to foster more inclusive, resilient societies. 2. Leotes Lugo Helin (UNICEF) shared insights from UNICEF's Learning Innovation Hub, particularly an AI-powered gamified learning platform tested in Bhutan, Uzbekistan, and Laos. This platform has remarkably improved math skills by 40% within just 12 weeks, showcasing the power of personalized learning. 3. Alex Wong (ITU) discussed the Giga initiative’s approach to map every school's connectivity and create the conditions for enhanced digital access. The focus isn't just on connectivity but also on ensuring that the necessary content and capacity building follow, as demonstrated in Sierra Leone. 🔍 Challenges & Future Directions: - Integrating foresight and future literacy needs time and leadership buy-in across sectors. - Scaling educational technology requires careful consideration of evidence, partner engagement, and sustainable business models. - Building capacity for digital inclusivity is crucial for sustainable impact, requiring comprehensive strategies for connectivity, content, and usage. The session was a reminder of the importance of strategic foresight and innovative technologies in crafting educational systems that are not only adaptive but also forward-thinking, ensuring that no child is left behind in our increasingly digital world. For the recording visit: https://lnkd.in/gSrebUnm #EducationForAll #DigitalInclusion #UNESCO #UNICEF #ITU #UN2Point0 #FutureReadyEducation

It's crucial for education systems to prioritize the development of skills beyond traditional academics. Social-emotional, life, or 21st-century skills—as named by the IDB, play a vital role in fostering personal growth. These skills empower individuals to navigate their emotions, form meaningful connections, set and pursue goals, and tackle the complexities of our modern world. Dive into this insightful IDB blog post shedding light on the significance of 21st-century skills, released in honor of International Youth Day. #Education #21stCenturySkills #SocialEmotionalLearning #YouthDevelopment #LifeSkills #InternationalYouthDay #SkillsForTheFuture #IDB #GlobalEducation Mel Hyeri Yang, Emma Naslund-Hadley

251 million children and youth are still out of school worldwide, as revealed in UNESCO’s new Global Education Monitoring Report. With only a 1% reduction in out-of-school rates in almost ten years, chronic under-investment—especially in lower-income countries—remains a significant barrier. Working alongside the G20 Brasil 2024, UNESCO calls on all Member States to prioritize education and ensure every child and young person has access to learning opportunities. Learn more in the full report: https://unes.co/27falw #RightToEducation #GlobalEducation #LeadforEducation #EducationForAll GEM Report UNESCO

The European Commission for International Partnerships (EU) and Cambodia have launched the 'Education for Green and Digital Jobs' initiative, aiming to prepare Cambodian youth for the evolving job market and align with the nation's industrial policy goals. The program plans to invest in resilient infrastructure, research, and knowledge enhancement, facilitate people-to-people exchanges with the EU, implement rights-based policy reforms, and foster private sector participation. It will also provide scholarships for Cambodian university students to pursue STEM subjects, supported by government-led sustainable funding mechanisms. The initiative aims to equip Cambodian youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for driving sustainable progress. Minister Naron expressed the program's potential to draw European enterprises to Cambodia, offering high-quality job prospects in emerging green and digital industries. The initiative represents a key development in the EU-Cambodia partnership, symbolizing a mutual commitment to fostering sustainable growth, educational excellence, and economic prosperity. To read more,visit- https://zurl.co/LlIM #EUCambodiaPartnership #GreenAndDigitalJobs #YouthEmpowerment #STEMEducation #SustainableDevelopment #IndustrialPolicy #ResilientInfrastructure #KnowledgeEnhancement #EUExchanges #PolicyReforms #PrivateSectorGrowth #TheBetterCambodia #Cambodia #Scholarships #SustainableFunding #EconomicProsperity #EducationalExcellence

Are you thinking about studying abroad? Then you should join the webinar Study in Finland Calling The Americas! 🕕 October 10 at 21-22 (UTC/GMT + 3 hours, = 12 p.m. in CDMX). You'll gain practical insights into Finland’s higher education system and hear from experts to help you decide if Finland is the right study destination for you. And why wouldn’t it be? ➡ Since 2018, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world by the yearly UN World Happiness Report. We explain it with what we call an "infrastructure of happiness," which is more about everyday systems and values that keep things running smoothly. ☑ We have a strong democracy, and people generally trust the government to do its job well. There's a lot of transparency and accountability. ☑ People feel free to live their lives how they want. There's a good amount of trust in others and in institutions. ☑ Our legal system is impartial, and human rights are taken seriously. Political violence isn't something we have to deal with. ☑ Corruption is low, and people are pretty well-informed, thanks to a strong culture of media literacy and press freedom. ☑ Equality is important to us, whether it’s gender equality or making sure everyone gets a good start in life. Prenatal care is free, there’s generous paid parental leave, education is free and healthcare is either free or very affordable. ☑ We’re lucky to have nature all around us. Forests cover a huge part of the country, and there are lakes everywhere. Even in cities, you’re never far from a park or forest, which makes it easy to recharge. ☑ And of course, there's the sauna. It's a big part of our daily life and THE PLACE to relax. If you're thinking about studying or living in Finland, there’s a lot to explore - both during and after your studies. Join the webinar where you will have the chance to ask questions and learn more! Johanna Kivimäki Heidi Virta Patricia Ceja Perez Mikko Salonen Juan Pablo Romero Team Finland Latin America Anna Korkalainen #education #finland

Education is not just a privilege; it’s a fundamental right. Quality education opens doors, empowers individuals, and transforms communities. It fosters critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, equipping everyone with the tools needed to navigate an ever-changing world. Investing in education means investing in a brighter future—one where opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of background. Let’s champion equal access to quality education and break down barriers together!

Vietnam is continuing to be a hot topic at the moment when speaking with universities exploring TNE opportunities. Why? Well, here are some key data points that support this from an Acumen survey of Vietnamese parents: 👩🏫 85% of parents surveyed indicated an openness to TNE in Vietnam 👨👩👧👦 More than 20 million young Vietnamese in the 5-19 age bracket 🏫 Not enough places at Vietnamese universities to meet the demand 📈 Half of all parents surveyed are willing to pay at least US$8,400 per year for an international program taught in Vietnam 👨💻 A rapid transformation of the economy towards technology and services economy, meaning new skills/education requirements Also, as parents are the key decision makers in choosing the institution for their children’s higher education, don’t forget to include them in your marketing plan! Read more in the Vietnam Voices survey, link in comments. Haike Manning | Bang Pham | Marnie Watson (IEAA-F) Acumen, Part of Sannam S4 Group