STATEMENT OF UNITY AND COOPERATION
Regional Networking Conference of Presidents of
Women's Colleges and Universities in Asia
18 - 20 November 2008 Miriam College, Quezon City Philippines
1. We, the participants of the Regional Networking Conference of Presidents of Women's Colleges and Universities in Asia;
2. Gathered here at Miriam College in Quezon City, Philippines on 18 - 20 November 2008;
3. Acknowledging the 2001 "Visioning Conference: Educating Women for Leadership and Governance in the 21st Century" held at Miriam College;
4. Guided by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), particularly Article 10 on education which highlights women's access to studies at various education levels in order to reduce existing education gap between women and men;
5. Recalling the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to eradicate inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training of women;
6. Re-affirming the critical role of Asian women's colleges and universities as a main vehicle for women's empowerment and leadership by strengthening their confidence and self worth through developing their knowledge, skills, and values;
7. Determined to advance the educational, citizenship and leadership aspirations of young women in Asia;
8. Dedicate our educational mission to the pursuit of people-centered, participatory sustainable development that values and promotes women's human rights, gender equality and transformational leadership;
Commit to the following:
1. The establishment of the Network of Asian Women's Universities and Colleges (NAWUC) which will serve as a partnership mechanism for solidarity and cooperation among higher education institutions towards the empowerment and leadership of women;
2. The adoption of women's transformational leadership as a centerpiece program that will include, among others-
2.1 collaborative curriculum development;
2.2 service-learning, extension programs, culture and arts, and exchanges, for student and faculty development;
2.3 creation of the Young Asian Women's Leadership Program as an enabling mechanism to enhance the training of young women as leaders;
2.4 conduct of collaborative research activities and publish a NAWUC Research Journal on Women's Higher Education and Leadership in Asia; and
2.5 recognize outstanding women in higher education institutions for women in Asia.
3. The creation and maintenance of a NAWUC secretariat and website;
4. Convene regular meetings of Presidents of NAWUC member institutions.