DIGITAL WORKSHOP ON SHARING EXPERIENCE IN GEOPARK EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS

There were more than 80 participants who are the representative leaders and staffs of the Management board of Non nuoc Cao Bang UGGp, Khorat Geopark (Thailand), teachers and students from schools in Non nuoc Cao Bang UGGp territory (Vietnam) and Khorat geo-schools (Thailand), members of Vietnam geoparks network (VGN). Besides, the workshop was also honored to have the presence of Mr. Guy Martini, UNESCO Global Geoparks Council Chair, Global Geoparks Network General Secretary, Assoc., Dr. Tran Tan Van, Former Head of Vietnam Institution of Geosciences and Minerals, member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, Mr. Saksit Sakulrikaletsema, Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and Assoc., Dr. Adisorn Naowanondha, President of Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Khorat Fossil Museum (Thailand).

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Vice Governor of Ratchasima province highly applauded the efforts of Khorat Geopark in cooperating and learning experience in UNESCO global geopark development; thanked Non nuoc Cao Bang UGGp for supporting and sharing experience in developing UNESCO global geopark with Ratchasima province, Thailand. He also hoped that in the coming time, the two geoparks would continue to strengthen the cooperation in implementing activities during the process of geopark development. Assoc., Dr. Tran Tan van - Former Head of Vietnam Institution of Geosciences and Minerals, member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council said that it was a meaningful activity, improving the effectiveness of the development of UNESCO global geoparks, especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic; fostering the cooperation and tightening the relation between the two geoparks in particular and between Vietnam and Thailand in general.

The workshop included 07 presentations of teachers and students from schools in Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and geo-schools in Khorat Geopark, Thailand, focusing on sharing and discussing the model of "Geopark ambassador club” and geopark educational initiatives. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Le Thu, teacher of Cao Bang High school for the Gifted presented “Experience in managing, orienting and organizing educational activities of UNESCO global geoparks through “Geopark ambassador club” model. On behalf of the schools piloting “Geopark ambassador club model, Luong SonTung ­- student of Cao Bang High school for the Gifted, Ly Tien Minh – student of Cao Bang city High school, Hoang Phuong Tra and Loi Minh Anh – students of Hop Giang Secondary school presented about the club’s activities in geopark education and communication in their schools. On behalf of geo-schools in Khorat Geopark, Thailand, Mrs. Kanokwan Thipkrathoke shared “Various teaching-learning activities in geo-schools, Khorat Geopark”. Siriporn Oriphan, Meena Konthon, Jiraporn Payungwong shared their learning projects based on the knowledge of Khorat Geopark.

Also at the workshop, teachers and students of both sides actively discussed issues related to the presentations, the ways and platforms that students often used to communicate and disseminate the geopark knowledge to their friends, family and community. After the workshop, most of the students said that they were very happy to participate in the workshop, share and learn about the activities of geopark education and communication of their peers’ country and they wished to have opportunities to exchange in the future, especially, face-to-face exchange opportunities after the pandemic had been put under control.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Pratueng Jintaskul, Director of Khorat Geopark highly appreciated the effectiveness of the workshop, especially the active participation of students and teachers; he hoped that the two sides would continue to connect, share and collaborate to implement more activities regarding the development of the UNESCO Global Geopark label.

Mr. Truong The Vinh-Deputy Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Director of the Management board of Non nuoc Cao Bang UGGp reaffirmed the efforts of both sides in organizing a fruitful workshop and wished to continue to carry out cooperation activities in the future, especially educational activities; proposed that the two sides continue to study and develop a memorandum of understanding to establish Sistership relation between the two geoparks; hoped that through the two geoparks to create and strengthen the cooperation between the two provinces in social, economic areas, especially sharing and exchanging experience in tourism development, researching possibilities of attracting Thai tourists to Cao Bang and introducing Thailand tourism market to Cao Bang…

Khorat Geoaprk is located in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Northeast Thailand. Khorat geopark was established as a provincial geopark in 2015, in 2018 it was established as national geopark by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The unique features of Khorat geopark are sandstone cuesta and diversity of fossil including fossils of dinosaurs, ancient elephants, petrified wood…and it is home to Thai Khorat.

Previously, in May and June, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and Khorat Geopark jointly organized 02 workshops on sharing experiences in developing UNESCO Global Geopark and the possibilities of establishing partnership relation between two geoparks. Being aware of the similarities in the implementation of geopark educational activities in schools, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and Khorat Geopark decided to jointly organize the workshop on sharing experiences in implementing geopark educational activities in schools for teachers and students from schools in the two geopark’s territory.