On March 1, 2024, the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy and the Fudan-Arab Research Centre for Global Development and Governance organized the third lecture of the Fudan-Arab Lecture Series. The lecture was delivered by Professor Keiichi Ogawa from Kobe University, Japan, and the topic was Global Public Policy and Practice in Human Resource Development in the Arab Region: A Case Study of Yemen. The lecture was chaired by Professor Yijia Jing, the Dean of the Institute for Global Public Policy.

As an expert of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Professor Ogawa first reviewed the phased goals and achievements of the United Nations since the last century. Particularly, he emphasized the significant progress made in global human resource development and basic education levels since the 21st century under the guidance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, Yemen, which has been affected by regional conflicts and political instability for a long time, has only achieved a basic education coverage rate of 66%, much lower than other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (90%). In this context, the Yemeni government has implemented multiple policies such as the Transitional Education Plan (TEP) to reduce the dropout rate and improve the education deficiency situation. International organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and UNESCO have provided long-term assistance to Yemen in education funding, equipment resources, gender equality, and youth employment, and other dimensions.

Subsequently, the students and faculty engaged in a discussion with Professor Ogawa on a series of intriguing questions, enhancing their understanding of the issues and developmental trends concerning global human resource development, particularly in the Arab countries.