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Education ministers representing the 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum are set to meet in Peru to discuss collaboration and reform.

Although no South American nations were among the former members when APEC was set up to promote cooperation in 1989, Chile, Mexico and Peru all joined in the 1990s (and Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama have also been invited to join the group).

Along with an annual meeting of heads of state, there is also an APEC Education Ministerial Meeting. This year¡¯s is taking place in Lima on 5-6 October and is being hosted by Peruvian education minister Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi.

Right across the APEC countries, technological change, enhanced competition and, in many cases, ageing populations are altering the knowledge and skills required to secure employability, productivity and growth ¨C with major implications for educational provision.

The meeting will give ministers an opportunity to explore issues of enhancing educational quality; improving access and delivery; recognising competencies; and harnessing science and technology to drive innovation.

matthew.reisz@tesglobal.com