Bosconian business chamber taps NGOs for first innovation confab

CEBU, Philippines - The Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce Cebu Chapter (BICC-Cebu) partners with non- governmental organizations and local associations for the 1st Regional Innovation Conference on Education (RICE 2013) among eight regions in the country.

The business chamber shall work together with the National Association of UNESCO Clubs in the Philippines (NAUCP) Inc., the Go Ahon Pilipinas, Inc. and the Industrial Engineering Council of Cebu Institute of Technology – University, which is an accredited United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) Club in the region.

With the theme “My World, My Philippines, My Province: Moving Towards the Post 2015 Regional Education Agenda”, RICE 2013 will be held on May 4 at the CIT University Auditorium.

There are about 300 expected attendees who shall foster new partnerships and develop innovative solutions with the goal of solving education gaps in policy and practice, specifically in education millennium development goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA) goals beyond 2015.

These will include youth leaders, teachers from the basic and higher education sectors, local government units, youth employment practitioners, business councils, NGOs and industry experts.

RICE 2013 aims to deepen awareness on the progress of the education MDGs and EFA goals to 2015 and beyond in the regions and develop a clear understanding of UNESCO’s mission and vision in the light of EFA thrusts on educational innovation.

Furthermore, the conference intends to promote volunteerism as a tool in bridging the gaps of educational reforms in theory and practice through existing partner institutions like Go Ahon Pilipinas and EDSA People Power Commission and increase the membership of NAUCP in the region by orienting the participants about UNESCO, accreditation procedures for UNESCO Clubs and the benefits of becoming an accredited UNESCO Club.

BICC-Cebu is an association of past pupils of Saint John Bosco who are businessmen, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professionals.

NAUCP is a national, non-stock, non-profit, non-sectarian association of all accredited UNESCO Clubs in the Philippines and is one of the leading professional organizations on UNESCO’s ideals, mission and programs in the Philippines.

The CIT Industrial Engineering Council is a two-time national awardee: being one of the 2011 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations awarded by President Benigno Aquino III last Oct. 27, 2011 and the 2013 Most Outstanding UNESCO Club in the entire Philippines.

The IE Council is also CIT University’s Most Outstanding Student Organization from 2008 to 2013.  (FREEMAN)