The UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning is pleased to share the Routledge International Handbook of Life and Values Education in Asia, which he recently co-edited, along with Emeritus Professor Kerry J. Kennedy.
The Handbook looks at the role education plays in shaping modern Asia’s values. It explores both changing values and values deeply held and shared across cultures. As the publishers note:
“While a range of values is identified here, there is no single set of values that can be applied to all people in all contexts. The time has long gone, even for single societies, when values can be imposed. Yet this Handbook emphasizes both the extent and importance of values to individuals and their societies—how they respond to these values may provide the key to better and more caring societies and to better lives for all.”
Professor Shahbaz Khan, Director for UNESCO Regional Office in East Asia wrote:
“In a world increasingly fraught with conflict and division, “The Routledge International Handbook of Life and Values Education in Asia” offers a beacon of hope and inspiration…Lee and Kennedy astutely recognize that peace and harmony in Asia cannot be achieved solely through political and economic cooperation. It requires a deeper understanding and appreciation of the shared cultural and spiritual values that bind the region together. By nurturing a sense of shared humanity and fostering respect for diversity, value education can play a vital role in building a more peaceful and mutually beneficial future.
Meanwhile, the book goes beyond simply advocating for a return to traditional values. It also recognizes the need to reimagine our futures together, incorporating the principles of inclusion, multiculturalism, and sustainable development education. This requires an open and continuous dialogue that engages diverse voices and perspectives, allowing us to collectively envision a future that is both ecologically sustainable and socially equitable.”
The handbook is a resource for academics, policy makers and teachers interested in social values, education and intercultural understanding.
Read more about the Routledge International Handbook of Life and Values Education in Asia.
The UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning is based at the Education University of Hong Kong. The Chair is a member of the IDIU Network.