Conference Overview

The WCCI 14^th World Conference at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Adult Education and Human Resource Development (FEEK), Pécs, Hungary will be a historic milestone and a unique experience for the following reasons:

·         It will be the 40^TH Year Celebration  of the WCCI (1970 – 2010).

·         The University of Pécs, the host institution is located in the heart of the City of Pécs , the city without borders.  It was with this title that the regional centre of Southern Danubia won the competition to be European Capital of Culture in 2010. The city’s multi-cultural nature derives from the fact that it has always been open-minded, a potential space where even those cultures could meet which are not normally interactive, such as those of Western Europe with the Balkan cultures, the German and the Turkish. (Pécs 2010 European Capital of Culture, Hungary).  The faculty and staff of the university are knowledgeable professionals, warm and friendly colleagues who are ready to welcome everyone to WCCI’s 40^TH Year Celebration;

·         The International Conference Director, Dr. Sandor Klein, Professor at the University of Pécs was a founding member of WCCI who attended the organizing conference at Asilomar, California in 1970.  Dr. Klein is a loyal, and dedicated WCCI member and leader who led his group to bid for the WCCI 14^th World Conference to be held in his own country and university.

The theme of the conference, “Defining Democracy, Freedom and Entrepreneurship in the Context of A Globalized Civil Society” was chosen by the host committee as a response to the resurgence of democracy in Hungary and the neighboring Eastern European countries. A similar movement is also happening in some countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The engagement of the participants in defining the important concepts that make up the conference theme can be the significant contribution of this world meeting to education for the 21^st century.  

If we want mankind to survive, we need to find new ways to solve our conflicts. Education has to play a major role in establishing a new generation, for which democracy is a natural element of life, freedom to learn (and learning to be free) is a birthright and everybody will be on enterpreneur (somebody, who is open to discover new territories, and ready to make the extra effart to establish something worth).

-Sandor Klein, 2010

·         The Plenary Session speakers and presenters of papers, workshops and panel discussion are carefully chosen as a perfect fit to their roles because their participation will undoubtedly enrich the conference program.

·         The conference program will offer unique opportunities for the participants to enjoy this once in a lifetime celebration and experience the Pécs 2010 European Capital of Culture.

Conference participants will be received as honored guests to witness and participate in WCCI’s 40^TH Year Celebration.

We look forward to a 5- day celebration, exchange of ideas and knowledge, cultural immersion in the rich heritage of Pécs, Hungary and the warm hospitality of the host university committee as well as the friendship of WCCI members coming from 50 countries of the world.

COME AND JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE

THE WCCI 40^TH Year Celebration 

at THE UNIVERSITY OF PECS

Faculty of Adult Education and Human Resources Development (FEEK)

PECS, HUNGARY

Estela C. Matriano, Ed.D.

Executive Director

World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI)

Professor, Cross Cultural Studies

Shirley M. Hufstedler School of Education (HSOE)

Alliant International University

San Diego, California, USA