Press Releases
Visit of Director-General of the United Nationas Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Koïchiro Matsuura, 4-5 December 2008
Joint Press Statement by The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Mr Koïchiro Matsuura will visit Singapore from 4 to 5 December 2008 at the joint invitation of Minister for Education, Second Minister for Defence and Chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO Dr Ng Eng Hen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr George Yeo. Mr Matsuura’s visit is under the auspices of Singapore’s United Nations (UN) Distinguished Visitors Programme which invites outstanding individuals linked to the UN system to visit Singapore.
UNESCO is a UN specialised agency that encourages international peace and universal respect by promoting collaboration among nations in the fields of education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, communication and information. Singapore rejoined UNESCO on 8 October 2007. The Singapore National Commission for UNESCO was launched on 28 May 2008 to plan and coordinate Singapore’s activities and programmes in UNESCO.
During his visit, Mr Matsuura will call on Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong. Mr Matsuura will also meet with Dr Ng Eng Hen, Mr George Yeo, and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Lee Boon Yang. He will also visit the Institute of Technical Education and the Marina Barrage.
On 5 December 2008, Mr Matsuura will give a public lecture on “New Dynamics in Higher Education: Promoting Science, Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development” at the Raffles Hotel. The lecture is jointly organised by the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Following the lecture, Minister Ng and Mr Matsuura will jointly witness the launch of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science programme in Singapore, with the signing of an agreement on the L’Oréal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowships. The L’Oréal-UNESCO programme has recognised over 700 women scientists around the world since its inception in 1998. The National Fellowships will be supported by the National Commission, in partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).