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OAS and the Ministry of Education of Colombia Hold the International Meeting “Virtual Educa 2013”

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Ministry of Education of Colombia have organized this week until Friday, June 21 in Medellin, Colombia, the International Meeting “Virtual Educa 2013,” that brings together more than 6,000 students, teachers, authorities, and international experts in the areas of innovation and education, from twenty countries of the hemisphere, to discuss innovative projects on education and human development.

The President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, participated in the inauguration of the event, as did the Minister of Education, Maria Fernanda Campo; the Governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo; the Mayor of Medellin, Anibal Gaviria; the Secretary General of Virtual Educa, José María Antón and, representing the OAS, the Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Sherry Tross.

During the meeting focused on educational innovation participants share positive experiences in terms of creativity and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education and development, and is structured in terms of eight thematic areas: multilateral and governmental initiatives for innovation in education; school in the digital age; the university in the knowledge society; continuous, professional and corporate training; models, technological resources and mechanisms of knowledge management; educational digital inclusion for social cohesion and sustainable development; virtual education, a question of quality; and successful models of international education.

In the context of this event, a meeting of education ministers from 19 countries will take place as an opportunity to reflect and discuss about the progress of each in the development of public policies that encourage innovation and the efficient use of ICTs in educational systems. The Second International Exhibition "Education, Innovation and ICT" is also taking place this week, where multinational companies exhibit their latest products and technological tools for this sector.

Virtual Educa is an initiative led by the OAS for the realization and strengthening of innovative projects in the fields of education, innovation and human development in 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and, at the same time, it is a space for the exchange of experiences and best practices related to the knowledge society and educational innovation from all sectors: government, academia, business and society in general.

Virtual Educa Colombia 2013 is held in collaboration with and with the support of the Government of Antioquia and the City of Medellin.

The conference program is available here (only available in Spanish).

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org

Reference: E-244/13