SINGAPORE: The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Koichiro Matsuura will be in Singapore for a two-day visit from Thursday.

His visit is at the joint invitation of Minister for Education, Second Minister for Defence and Chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO Ng Eng Hen, and Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo.

Mr Matsuura's visit is under the auspices of Singapore's UN Distinguished Visitors Programme which invites outstanding individuals from UN agencies to visit Singapore.

UNESCO is a UN specialised agency that encourages international peace and universal respect by promoting collaboration among nations in the fields of education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, communication and information. Singapore rejoined UNESCO on 8 October 2007.

The Singapore National Commission for UNESCO was launched on 28 May this year to plan and coordinate Singapore's activities and programmes in UNESCO.

During his visit, Mr Matsuura will call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Mr Matsuura will also meet with Dr Ng, Mr Yeo and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang. He will also visit the Institute of Technical Education and the Marina Barrage.

On Friday, Mr Matsuura will give a public lecture on "New Dynamics in Higher Education: Promoting Science, Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development" at the Raffles Hotel.

The lecture is jointly organised by the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Following the lecture, Dr Ng and Mr Matsuura will jointly witness the launch of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science programme in Singapore, with the signing of an agreement on the L'Oréal Singapore For Women in Science National Fellowships.

The L'Oréal-UNESCO programme has recognised over 700 women scientists around the world since its inception in 1998.

The National Fellowships will be supported by the National Commission, in partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). - CNA/de