National Women’s Education Center of Japan

An international symposium hosted by the Korean Institute for Gender Equality Promotion and Education (KIGEPE), with which the National Women’s Education Center (NWEC) has a MOU, was held in Seoul on December 14, 2018, under the theme of “Gender Equality at Schools.” Experts from Finland, the Philippines, and Taiwan, as well as a researcher of NWEC presented reports with KWDI researcher as moderator. About 80 guests participated the seminar including Korean government officials, gender specialists and Ewha Womans University students.

In the keynote speech by a planning officer of the Council for Gender Equality (TANE) in Finland, the speaker described that they prepare educational materials for kindergarten, elementary and junior high school teachers, and emphasize fostering a safe school environment for children for the purpose of providing education from a gender-sensitive perspective.

As a first panelist, NWEC researcher conducted a presentation on the situation of gender equality in educational fields in Japan, NWEC’s efforts to prepare guidebooks for promoting gender equality in college, research conducted on careers and lifestyles of school teachers, and training programs provided for school teachers.
Next, an education program supervisor for local government in the Philippines explained their recently-launched educational programs for gender equality at schools.
Lastly, a professor of National Tsing Hua University of Taiwan described gender equality committee established in every school in Taiwan based on the Gender Equality Education Act and issues they face in the process.

Researcher of Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI) as a moderator commented that while best practices are conducted in each countries, there are many common gender issues surrounding teachers and schools which we should tackle these problems together.

Participants asked questions such as the role of media and issues to be addressed to increase the number of female managers, engaging in a lively exchange of questions and answers despite a limited time.

Everyone on the floor reaffirmed the importance of promoting education that doesn’t leave anyone behind, while continuing to exchange information mutually among countries.

Prior to the symposium, NWEC staff made a courtesy visit to the KIGEPE office, and exchanged opinions with Ms. Yoon kyeong Nah, President, and Dr. Haelim Cho, Director of KIGEPE International Cooperation Center, regarding issues relating to gender equality in Korean and Japan.

NWEC staff took a tour of the KIGEPE facilities, and observed a signage that shows the degree of gender equality attainment in Korea in a bar graph design, an experience-based panel that cuts through a glass ceiling, a #withyou panel, etc.

KIGEPE staff who had participated in the “Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the Asia Region”which NWEC conducts every year came to meet with NWEC staff.