This coming conference in Korea will be the 30th anniversary of the Asia-pacific Federation on Giftedness. Our purpose, as stated in the APFG constitution, is to focus Asia-Pacific attention on gifted and talented children and their valuable potential contribution to the benefit of humankind. More specifically, our aims are:

1.1 to initiate, conduct, and support research into the nature of giftedness, talents, creativity and the education and development of gifted and talented children; to disseminate the findings of this research; and provide a database for members and researchers

1.2 to assemble people from Asia-Pacific region interested in gifted and talented education for an exchange of ideas and experiences

1.3 to persuade governments to recognize gifted children as a category for special attention in mainstream educational programs, and to cooperate with national and other organizations for gifted and talented children who share these purposes

1.4 to establish means for a continuing exchange of ideas, experiences, teaching, and teacher-training techniques in respect to gifted and talented education

1.5 to create a climate of acceptance of gifted and talented children as a valuable Asia-Pacific asset, whether from advantaged or disadvantaged backgrounds, disabled or able-bodied, and from developing or developed countries and regions

1.6 to initiate, conduct, and support activities designed to bring together gifted and talented children in Asia-Pacific region

1.7 to encourage parent and family education and support to enhance the potential of all children.

To date, we have achieved many of our aims through the great support and dedication of educators, specialists, government and non-government agencies from various countries. Many professional fields have been actively involved in our progression. However, nurturing and developing students’ giftedness is a complicated process, and it remains one of the most difficult tasks in schools and colleges in the region. There are still many challenges waiting for solution.

I am confident that we will continue to make significant gains in this APFG region in the process of developing children to their highest potential. Our work in the near future will aim to make even more impact on the way that gifted and talented students are identified and supported. In order to fulfill our commitments, it is essential that after APFG conferences in different countries, participants all endeavor to put new and exciting policies and approaches into practice. In this respect, Korea has been one of the best supports in our field.

I wish you a very successful conference in Korea in 2020.

Usanee Anuruthwong, Ph. D.

President of the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness