[lg policy] Fwd: [MLE WG List] 3rd Conference Announcement and Call for Papers: Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Conference, Nov. 9-11, 2010

[Kirk Person]

Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
November 9-11, 2010 * Bangkok, Thailand

http://www.seameo.org/LanguageMDGConference2010/

3rd Announcement & Call for Papers

An international conference on “Language, Education and the Millennium Development Goals” will be held November 9-
11 in Bangkok, Thailand sponsored by a consortium of organizations from the Asia Multilingual Education Working
Group, including: UNESCO, UNICEF, SEAMEO, Mahidol University, SIL International, Save the Children, CARE, Asia
Pacific Basic and Adult Education, Asia Institute of Technology and the Royal Thai Institute.

Join with representatives of government and intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, academics and local civil society during
a three-day forum to dialogue about: the state of development of ethnolinguistic minorities, the relevance of local
languages in achieving education and development goals, and the development of programs and policies that better reach
these underserved groups.

Purpose
Languages are more than tools for communication; they help shape the identity of individuals and groups, as well as
serving as a key element in social integration and cultural development. As such, languages are also strategically
important for the attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA).
Despite aggregate gains worldwide in achieving the MDGs and EFA, the state of development for the world’s
ethnolinguistic minorities continues to lag behind, putting them at risk for even greater disparities that hinder efforts to
overcome poverty, illiteracy and disease; as well as increasing the likelihood of conflict arising from exclusion.
This conference provides a forum to enhance understanding, inspire meaningful action and increase access to
education and development opportunities for ethnolinguistic communities, through:
• Increasing understanding of the linkages between language and achieving the MDGs and EFA
• Fostering connections among a broad set of actors to support activities that integrate language and education as
crosscutting themes in achieving the MDGs and EFA
• Informing policy makers and development partners on good practices to effectively incorporate language and
education into strategies and policies to achieve the MDGs and EFA

Tracks
The conference features four thematic tracks, which incorporate language and education as crosscutting themes:
1. Language and Universal Primary Education (MDG 2 / EFA 1, 2, 6)
• Linguistic and cultural considerations in strategies that seek to achieve universal primary education
• Access and retention of children speaking non-dominant versus dominant languages in primary education
• Role of learners’ first language (L1) – or mother tongue – versus languages of wider communication (national,
official or international languages) in primary education
• Multilingual education as a way towards universal primary education (UPE)
• Language in early childhood education and development: multilingual education to facilitate smooth integration
into primary school
• Relationship between adult literacy in L1 and UPE
• Integration of local language and culture effectively into education policies and programs

2. Language and Gender Equality (MDG 3 / EFA 5)
• Linguistic and cultural considerations in strategies to promote gender equality and empower women
• The role of life-long learning in overcoming gender biases and discrimination, including how lifelong learning
empowers both girls and boys, women and men
• Situation of women and girls in ethnolinguistic minority communities relative to their counterparts in dominant
language speaking communities
• Ways that local language and culture have been effectively integrated in policies and programs to ensure equitable
development opportunities, improved status and treatment of both sexes

3. Language, Health, Nutrition and Protection (MDGs 4, 5, 6)
• Evidence and support for integrating local language and culture into policies and programs on health,
nutrition and protection
• Providing equitable access to appropriate health and social welfare services for ethnolinguistic minority
communities
• Utilizing language and culture to build good knowledge and practice for early childhood care and
reproductive health
• Linguistic and cultural strategies to minimize the impact of communicable diseases (i.e. HIV/AIDS, TB and
malaria)
• Professional social work practices across languages and cultures to prevent and respond to violence, abuse,
neglect and exploitation
• Community-based mechanisms (e.g. diversion and restorative justice programs) to uphold the rights of
children in ethnolinguistic minority communities

4. Language and Sustainable Development (MDGs 1,7 / EFA 3, 4)
• Language diversity and intangible cultural heritage in poverty reduction and environmental preservation
strategies
• Language as a determinant of access to resources to alleviate extreme poverty and hunger, or mitigate
environmental degradation
• Role of language in adult education and poverty reduction
• Language and participation in poverty reduction programs
• Community-based approaches to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability
• Drawing on language and culture to expand access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities

Abstract Submissions:
Abstracts of proposed papers will be accepted until July 30. Selected presenters will be notified by August 20. We
welcome submission of papers and perspectives representing a broad range of viewpoints and that highlight relevant
local, national or comparative research and practice in the four thematic areas of the conference.
• Abstract submissions should be no more than 250 words in English and should clearly identify the paper's
topic and the relevance to the conference.
• Abstract submitters should identify the track they feel is best suited to their work out of the four tracks listed
in the conference announcement. The conference steering committee reserves the right to include your
paper for consideration in a track other than the one you identify, if deemed appropriate.
• Abstracts will be compiled and reviewed by three independent reviewers per track.
Registration Fees
Registration fees cover the following items: conference kit, access to plenary and panel sessions, morning and afternoon
refreshments and buffet lunches for the three days of the conference. Online registration will open mid June 2010.
• Thai Participants: 4,950 Thai Baht
• International (Non-Thai) Participants: US$250/person

Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available for participants that demonstrate financial need as well as ability to bring
relevant expertise and a diverse perspective to the conference. Scholarship applications will be available through the
online registration process beginning in mid June.

More information on the conference program, venue and plenary speakers will be forthcoming. To submit abstracts or
request further information about the conference, please email lcssw at mahidol.ac.th and cc: rm.gesuden at unesco.org.
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