SEAMEO 2007 awards for outstanding work in research and journalism

SEAMEO launches 2007 awards for outstanding work in research and journalism

The SEAMEO Secretariat, the headquarters of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, is launching the 2007 cycle of its two annual awards for researchers and journalists in the region who do outstanding work in their fields.

For 2007, the competition is open for the SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award and the SEAMEO-Australia Press Award.

For this year's research award, the theme is "Education for Sustainable Development: Improving Teaching and Learning for Southeast Asia's Common Future." The theme for the press award is "Reporting on Education for Sustainable Development."

Entries for the research award should reflect managing social change, good governance, civic consciousness and environmentally responsible business; sustainable agriculture, fishery and rural development; community mobilization and advocacy for health and sanitation, environmentally responsible lifestyles; innovative teaching and learning approaches for sustainable development issues (global warming, ozone depletion, protection of biodiversity) and sustainable development in traditional Southeast Asian values, culture and promoting a regional identity.

Submissions for the press award should be print articles that provide analysis, through experiences and insights of people, governments and societies, on how education becomes a means to address changing environmental and social conditions; incisive reporting on educational policies, issues and initiatives that help mitigate health and environmental problems and a strong human feel through the voices of different people and sectors, taking into consideration social attributes and cultural understanding.

Part of the SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award winner's prize is a plaque of recognition and a 20-day visiting fellowship in Canada, including another 20-day visiting fellowship in Southeast Asian countries. The SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award is co-sponsored by the Government of Canada, a SEAMEO associate member country.

The prize for the press award that is co-sponsored by the Government of Australia, another SEAMEO associate member state, includes a plaque of recognition and a three-week study visit to Australia and a journalism internship with the Australian newspaper Melbourne Age.

Winners of the two awards will receive their recognition during the 43^rd SEAMEO Council Conference in Malaysia in March 2008. The deadline for nominations, entries and submissions to the two awards is on 15 December 2007. The SEAMEO website (www.seameo.org) has more information and details. (end)