Deadline extended!! Join Us for UNESCO WEEK 2025 International Symposium “Geoparks x Education: Co-creating Learning with the Earth”

The registration deadline has now been extended until 15:00 (JST) on Wednesday, 10 December!

We are excited to announce that the UNESCO WEEK 2025 International Symposium, themed “Geoparks x Education: Co-creating Learning with the Earth,” will be organized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), jointly with the Japanese Geoparks Network. This event will bring together Geopark professionals, educators, researchers and policy makers to explore their collaborative practices and envision new forms of learning rooted in the Earth and communities.

Whether you are actively involved in UNESCO activities or simply interested in geology and/or education, we welcome you to join this meaningful event!

Event Highlights:

• Introduction by Prof. Artur Sa, President, Global Geoparks Network (GGN) on “Geoparks and Education: Building Capacity for a Sustainable Future.”
• Case Study Presentations showcasing projects from around the world, focusing on innovative learning programmes organized at various Geopark sites.
  • JAPAN From “Nothing” to “Learning”: Nurturing Local Pride at Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark（Ms. Sugio Tomoko, Coordinator for International Relations, Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark, Japan)
  • ROMANIA UNESCO Program Synergy: Geoparks as Lived Landscapes of Learning (Ms. Irina Tirdea, Executive Director, Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark, Romania)
  • REPUBLIC OF KOREA School and Community Partnerships for Geo-Education in Cheongsong UNESCO Global Geopark (Ms. Seong-ok Ju, Geopark Manager, Cheongsong UNESCO Global Geopark, Republic of Korea)
  • GREECE Educational Best Practices for Learning with the Earth and Building a Sustainable Future in the Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark (Ms. Konstantina Bentana, Head of Educational Sector, Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark, Greece)
• Roundtable Discussion with global experts, offering insights on effective models of collaboration between educational institutions—formal and non-formal—and geoparks.
  • Moderator 
    Ms. Furusawa Kana (Secretary-General, Japanese Geoparks Network)
  • Panellists
    Mr. Nagata Koki (Director, Aso UNESCO Global Geopark)
    Mr. Oyasu Kiichi (Director, Education Cooperation Department, (ACCU)
    as well as the case study presentors

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Thursday, 11 December 2025, 18:00-20:00 JST (UCT+9)
• Languages: English and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation provided)
• Cost: Free
• Location: Zoom webinar (link provided upon registration)

 Concept Note and Programme:

https://unesco-sdgs.mext.go.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/UW04_symposium_eng.pdf

 Register Today!

https://forms.office.com/r/CGvLBHUSLU

**You can watch a recording of the last symposium, held in November 2024, at the following link:
https://youtu.be/6N-rj2eKEZ8?si=KCsuhueRNyhbvgHf

For inquiries, please contact:
Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU)
Email: education@accu.or.jp
Phone: +81-3-5577-2852