COE RESEARCH PROJECT

●FOREWORD　

Many countries have made serious efforts to promote education for international understanding and cooperation since the end of the Second World War with the genuine hope not to repeat the wars. The international community with UNESCO at its center has also carried out many activities of significance to build through education the world of lasting peace in which people live together in peace and it appeared as if the world had steadily followed the path of progress toward peace, despites EAST-WEST confrontation, Israel-Palestine conflict, North-South relations and numerous local disturbances. Many people were convinced that the partnership and cooperation could bring forward the world of peace and that the culture of peace would prevail in the 21st century.

However, the 9-11 terrorist attack shattered such optimism and has turned the world suddenly into that of aggression and armed conflict, such as the deteriorating Iraqi conflict, worsening Israel-Iraq relations, precarious Afghan situation menaced by the remnant Taleban forces and renewed terrorist attacks in Spain and Athens. The most important mission today is to renew our effort for promoting actively education for peace and conviviality rather than simply mourning over the dreadful scenes of wars and human casualties shown on the TV screen.

COE Program of ICU presents, through the websites of ICU Institute of Educational Research and Services (IERS), latest studies and research of importance on education for conviviality for the benefit of the specialists and practitioners concerned. The titles and authors of works carried out in Japan will be introduced in English and likewise the information from abroad will be presented in Japanese.


CHIBA Akihiro
COE Visiting Professor,
International Christian University