A Human Resources Development Framework for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Recognizing that in 1993 APEC Economic Leaders in Seattle envisioned a
community in which improved education and training would provide the
skills for maintaining economic growth;
Recalling that the APEC Ministers in Seattle noted that the people of the
region are its most important asset and that the dynamism of the region
is reflected in changing human resources needs, and urged that continued
priority attention be devoted to developing human resources;
Reaffirming the Declaration of APEC Education Ministers, adopted at their
1992 Meeting, regarding the critical link between education and economic
development;
Reaffirming the vision and policy issues statements of the APEC Human
Resources Development Working Group and the training-related parts of
those of other Working Groups which were adopted at the Fifth Ministerial
Meeting in 1993; and
Reaffirming the principles of the Seoul Declaration:
- Affirm that the issues of human resources development and the development of economic growth, employment, and quality of life should be addressed in an integrated and coordinated manner;
- Affirm the value of, and need for, concerted development of human resources by member economies, the region's business/private sector enterprises, and research, education, and training institution;
- Affirm the important role of the public sector in giving guidance to human resources development in both the public and business/private sectors.
Recognizing that:
- human resources is a broad concept requiring focused and sustained effort for its effective implementation;
- the development of human resources cuts across the work programs of most APEC committees and working groups, and so requires close collaboration; and
- differences exist in the economic and social and political systems of member economies,
Urge members to consolidate and concentrate their efforts in human
resources development to produce tangible economic benefits in an effort
based on focused dialogue and the achievement of consensus.
We declare:
OBJECTIVE
The objective of human resources development in APEC is to promote the
well-being of all people in the region through economic growth and
development. This is to be achieved by advancing the design, development,
and delivery of practical and appropriate education and training for
current and future managers, entrepreneurs, and workers in both the
public and private sectors to contribute to economic growth, trade and
development in the Asia Pacific region. In appropriate cases, the
objective is to be achieved through the medium of policy recommendations
for the consideration of APEC Ministers.
PRINCIPLES
The development of human resources in APEC is to be based on the
following principles:
- The people of the Asia Pacific are the most important resource in economic growth and development, one of whose goals is to enhance the quality of life and well-being of our peoples;
- The development and protection of human resources contribute to the attainment of such fundamental values as the alleviation of poverty, full employment, universal access to primary, secondary and vocational education, and the full participation of all groups in the process of economic growth and development;
- Human resources development requires cooperative action by public, and business/private sectors, educational and training institutions;
- In designing regional approaches to human resources development attention must be given to the diversity of experiences and situations in the region.
PRIORITIES
- Provision of a quality basic education for all.
- Analysis of the regional labour market to allow sound forecasting of trends and needs in human resources development.
- Increasing the supply and enhancing the quality of managers, entrepreneurs, and educators/trainers in areas of the economy central to fostering economic growth and development. Such areas include training in small- and medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurship and in the management of sustainable growth incorporating economic and environmental considerations.
- Reducing skills deficiencies and unemployment by designing industrial and other training programs for applications at all stages of a person's working life.
- Increasing the quality of curricula, teaching methods, and instructional materials relating to the education and training of managers and other workers.
- Increasing the opportunities in the region for people who seek to gain skills required for the economic growth and development of member economies and the region as a whole.
- Preparing organizations and individuals to remain productive in the face of rapid economic and technological changes in member economies, the Asia-Pacific region and the global economy.
We decide:
A WORK PLAN FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN APEC
The APEC Human Resources Working Group shall prepare an annual work plan
for human resources development in APEC. The work plan is to define the
priorities for HRD activities in APEC and set out the means for their
realization in the immediate and longer terms. In the preparation of this
plan, the Working Group shall be guided by the objective, principles and
priorities set out in this Declaration and by the decisions of APEC
Leaders and Ministers. The Working Group may take into account the views
of appropriate expertise from within APEC and its observer organizations.
The preparation of the work plan shall be incorporated in the HRD Working
Group's first annual meeting held so that its report can be presented in
a timely manner for consideration by the First Senior Officials Meeting.