UN promotes engaged learning in universities across Asia-Pacific | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Whether it is an IT student volunteering in a rural Timor-Leste community learning center, or a health student on work experience at a Cambodian women's center, engaged learning methods can better prepare young people to be the future leaders of the Asia–Pacific region. This was the key message from the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for ICT for Development's (UN-APCICT) 'International Conference on Engaged Learning & ICT for Development (ICTD) in the University Curriculum,' co-organized with Cornell University (USA), the University of Selangor and the Asian Institute for Development Communication.

Over 100 participants from more than 20 countries came together in Selangor, Malaysia for the three-day event held from 3 to 5 June as part of a series of UN-APCICT activities promoting students' engagement in community development. Delegates concluded that (ICTD) courses should use engaged learning as a way to apply ICTs at the community level in order to tackle issues particularly related to the Millennium Development Goals. Engaged learning (also referred to as service learning or volunteerism), allows students to use their skills in a practical way and work with communities directly help them deal with challenges in health, food production, lifelong education, governance, disaster preparedness and economic welfare. In turn, the students become more active participants in society.

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