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Networking Centres of Excellence for HRD Research and TrainingMany institutions in the ESCAP region are generating innovative HRD policies and programmes. The work produced by these institutions serves as important inputs into government HRD policy and programmes. However, that work rarely gets publicized or disseminated beyond the confines of the countries in which it is conducted, despite the fact that much of it is relevant and applicable to other countries of the region. ESCAP can play an effective role in the wider diffusion of the indigenous HRD research and training potential available within the region. Regional support activities, such as information networking and transfer of technology among leading institutions, can contribute significantly to the optimal utilization of the region's accumulated wealth of knowledge and ideas. ESCAP has initiated a project, with the support of the Government of Japan, to network centres of excellence in HRD research and training in Asia and the Pacific. The project aims to provide greater regional visibility of the work of leading centres of excellence that conduct research or training in the delivery of HRD services to alleviate poverty in one or more of the following sectors: education, health, and employment creation or income generation. Only centres of excellence that are directly concerned with addressing the needs of the poor at the project or programme level will be considered for inclusion in the regional network. The centres of excellence may be from the government, non-governmental or private sectors. The objective of this activity is to create a sustainable learning platform for countries of the region to identify and exchange innovative practices in HRD research and training, through the networking of selected centres of excellence for HRD research and training. The project will promote information exchange, mutual learning and technical cooperation in HRD research and training among selected centres of excellence throughout the region. After careful screening of all applications, a total of 130 institutes have been selected for inclusion in the Network. All members of the Network, as well as other interested parties, will have interactive access to information of the member institutions in the database included in this Homepage. This database will be updated periodically. In addition, a compendium of Centres of Excellence on HRD Research and Training in printed form will be disseminated shortly. The existing homepages of the member institutions are linked to the ESCAP HRD Homepage. Starting in 1998, the first activity enlisting the collaboration of the members of the Network will be implemented. Members of the Network with relevant training experience will be invited to collaborate with ESCAP in the development and delivery of a series of ESCAP HRD Courses to train social development personnel working to alleviate poverty in the region. We would like to welcome other creative ideas to make the maximum use of the Network. We are committed to maintaining the Network as an active medium for regional cooperation among ESCAP member countries and areas. We welcome new nominations and applications for membership in the Network. |