The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the Institute of Education, University of London. Since education is the main theme of UNESCO, I think that his being awarded the degree from Institute of Education is truly honorable. I am certain that the Director-General is happy with this award, and as one involved in the activities of local UNESCO, I share this happiness.

　　Details of the event are conveyed by Ms. Saeki, a new member of Meguro UNESCO Association. She was delighted to report that Mr. Matsuura was awarded his degree during a special part of the same ceremony in which she received her own doctoral degree. She is currently contributing to Meguro UNESCO using English competency built up in London, to translate Japanese-English for the Short News.

　I would like to express my utmost congratulations to Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on being awarded an honorary doctoral degree at the Institute of Education, University of London, on 18th March 2003. I attended my doctoral graduation ceremony on that day and by chance noticed that Mr. Matsuura's award ceremony was also being held. Furthermore, I could observe his ceremony from the front row of the graduates' seats. Mr. Matsuura made a speech in reply to the introduction given by Professor Richard Aldrich, professor of history at the Institute of Education. Mr. Matsuura was handed a shoulder ribbon, part of the doctoral gown, by the Vice Chancellor of the University of London. He bowed and smiled to the audience, and the whole process proceeded in a very peaceful atmosphere. I was proud to see such an excellent Japanese contributor to UNESCO and to witness this wonderful award ceremony at my alma mater, the Institute of Education. I felt as if the scene was something in a dream. I felt strong links with UNESCO, especially having just started working with Meguro UNESCO Association.

The main theme of Mr. Matsuura's speech was the importance of examining education in terms of quality. He quoted phrases of Dakar Framework for Action to explain 'quality education' is that for realization of valuing oneself and others. This states that all people have a human right to benefit from 'an education that includes learning to know, to do, to live together and to be'. He also mentioned that 'there has never been a time when the unity of humankind has been more palpable and yet more vulnerable. For this reason, we must re-work our vision of education to take account of our diversity and particularity while also re-affirming the universal values that hold us together.' I absolutely agree with his thoughts. The preface of the Constitution of UNESCO states; 'That the wide diffusion of culture, and the education of humanity for justice and liberty and peace, are indispensable to the dignity of man and constitute a sacred duty which all the nations must fulfil in a spirit of mutual assistance and concern'. As this phrase indicates, I believe that the practice of education for constructing and keeping world peace based on 'a spirit of mutual assistance and concern' is indispensable to the dignity of human beings.

I am studying motivational psychology for children in compulsory education. So I was much encouraged by Mr. Matsuura's speech valuing education in terms of strategic and practical terms, as well as conceptual terms. I earnestly wish to practice 'quality education' and would be very happy if my research findings could benefit children and those who support children's development. However, an individual researcher's achievement is limited, so I believe that realization of quality education requires the environment advocated in the preface of the Constitution of the UNESCO. This states; 'full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge'. I believe that quality education also requires the environment, in which every child has the right to live and the right to be educated, regardless of their race, gender, language and religion. I believe that the activities of UNESCO contribute to constructing such environment. For this reason, I wholeheartedly welcome the affiliation of America and many other nations, to the Constitute of UNESCO, and joining UNESCO.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to the Institute of Education, University of London, and also to Mr. Matsuura, who prepared the draft of his address at this ceremony. Ms. Saeki translated the whole of that draft from English to Japanese. Both English and Japanese versions are on the Meguro UNESCO Association homepage