For UNESCO’s ideals to be translated into concrete action, in 1953, the Organization founded the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (UNESCO ASPnet), commonly known as UNESCO Associated Schools.
The UNESCO ASPnet links educational institutions across the world around a common goal: to build the defenses of peace in the minds of children and young people. The over 11,500 ASPnet member schools in 182 countries work in support of international understanding, peace, intercultural dialogue, sustainable development and quality education in practice. https://aspnet.unesco.org/en-us/
The UNESCO Associated Schools Project network promotes the ideals of UNESCO by conducting pilot projects in favour of better preparing children and young people to meet effectively the challenges of an increasingly complex and interdependent world.
The UNESCO Associated schools are“the Navigators for Peace”and the Agents of Positive Change:
- A driver for innovation and quality in education, ASPnetis recognized as an effective tool for reaching target 4.7 on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) of Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Education 2030.
- Contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s strategies and programs in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication.
- Serve as think tanks for innovative approaches to quality education for all.
- Translate the five pillars of education for the 21st century – learning to know, learning to do, learning to be and learning to live together, learning to transform oneself and society – into best practices for education quality.
In 2013, ASPnet celebrated its 60thanniversary and adopted a new strategy for 2014-2021 entitled: “Global network of schools addressing global challenges: building global citizenship and promoting sustainable development”.
https://aspnet.unesco.org/en-us/interested-in-becoming-an-aspnet-member
Founded in 1994, by the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO, the Lebanese Network of UNESCO Associated Schools comprises76 educational institutions in the public and private sectors in various regions.
Very active in the various fields of interest of the international network, the Lebanese UNESCO ASPnet is distinguished by its effective participation in international and regional conferences and projects as well as national forum, meetings and projects, as well as its ability to develop the skills of directors, teachers and students on various topics such as citizenship and the acceptance of the other different, education for sustainable development, the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, the dialogue of cultures, peaceful conflict resolution, human and child rights, cultural and religious diversity and the right to be different.
To join ASPnet, https://aspnet.unesco.org/en-us/Pages/Membership.aspx, the school principal should fill in a request for participation, nominate a coordinator and select a teaching project that will address one of the following themes: global issues and the role of the United Nations system, education for sustainable development, peace and human rights, intercultural learning.
For more information, please contact the ASPnet National Coordinator at the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO by email: c.jeitani@lncu.org or by phone: 01-749105.