UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

11/19/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/19/2024 11:18

ASEAN Policy Forum sets the stage for Higher Education Transformation

The ASEAN Policy Forum on Higher Education 2024 was held from 11-12 November 2024 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The two-day event was hosted by the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR, in partnership with UNESCO and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package - Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), implemented by The Dutch Organization for Internationalization in Education (Nuffic) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Under the theme 'Moving Higher Education Forward Together: Building Resilience and Flexibility by Connecting and Including All', the forum gathered policy-makers, academics, industry leaders, and international organizations from across the ASEAN region to foster collaboration and tackle the challenges facing higher education. With a focus on resilience, adaptability, and inclusivity, participants explored strategies to strengthen ASEAN higher education systems in response to rapid technological advancements, economic shifts and environmental challenges.

The forum in Vientiane marks the beginning of an important series of policy dialogues, setting the stage for a progressive and sustained dialogue that will help ASEAN Member States and the EU work together towards building a more inclusive and connected higher education space. Over the next four years, six policy dialogues will be organized in ASEAN countries and Europe. These dialogues will cover key issues such as employability, digital skills and sustainable education.

The opening session featured remarks from distinguished speakers who underscored the importance of cross-regional cooperation in transforming ASEAN's higher education landscape:

  • Prof Dr Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education & Sports, Lao PDR
  • San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
  • Veerle Smet, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Lao PDR
  • Soohyun Kim, Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
  • Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator, Lao PDR
SCOPE-HE

Each speaker provided a unique perspective on the role of higher education in fostering sustainable development, regional integration, and resilience within ASEAN.

Throughout ASEAN, there is a need to accelerate the transformation of higher education systems to be more inclusive and learner-centered in line with Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4) on quality education for all. Soohyun Kim called for joint action to listen to youth and engage across the public and private sector: 'Achieving SDG 4 requires higher education to be a cornerstone for progress, supported by a whole-of-society approach. Let's commit to making education the engine of shared prosperity and resilience.'

In his opening remarks, San Lwin stated, 'As ASEAN continues to navigate an era marked by rapid technological advances and shifting workforce demands, the need for resilient, flexible, and inclusive higher education systems is pressing. Today's forum is a valuable opportunity to collectively address these challenges and seize new possibilities for higher education in ASEAN.'

Veerle Smet said 'The SCOPE Higher Education Programme, with a total funding of EUR 9.3 million, reflects our commitment to implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027), through the enhancement of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in the areas of education, science and culture…'I want to reaffirm the European Union's commitment to continuing our strong partnership with ASEAN in the field of higher education, through the SCOPE Higher Education Programme, as well as our flagship programmes Erasmus Plus and Horizon Europe. I am confident that this forum will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, contributing to the achievement of the ASEAN Higher Education Space by 2025.'

SCOPE-HE

With Laos PDR holding the ASEAN chairmanship, the event also served as an opportunity for the region to strengthen its collective efforts in higher education and scientific research collaboration. The forum explored how ASEAN countries can better harness higher education to meet the demands of a rapidly changing technological landscape while ensuring equitable access for all.

Dr Lavanh Vongkhamsane emphasized the importance of internationalization efforts in higher education, stating, 'Ensuring and driving the internationalization of higher education institutions, Lao PDR becomes true, there is a need to emphasize student mobility, credit transfer, accreditation, recognition, and collaborative research. Furthermore, there is a need to improve and create modern university management tools and strengthen regional cooperation which promotes collaboration and partnership among ASEAN, the European Union, and other stakeholders. In addition, there is a need to promote the Digital Transformation to Higher Education and support universities to establish the international course for the exchange program.'

As part of this multi-year dialogue, stakeholders are expected to develop actionable policy recommendations that will shape the future of higher education in South-East Asia, supporting the vision of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021-2025 and the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027).

This is a lightly adapted version of an article that first appeared on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) website.

About the EU-ASEAN SCOPE-HE Programme

The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package - Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), funded by the EU, is part of the EU's broader efforts to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN through sustainable connectivity. Launched in July 2024, SCOPE-HE focuses on increasing exchanges in higher education, vocational training, and research, while prioritizing gender equality, women's empowerment, digital transformation and green skills.

The ASEAN Policy Forum on Higher Education 2024 will feature expert panels on the following topics:

  • Ecosystem Linkages and Flexibility: Expanding Equitable Access to Higher Education and Scientific Research.
  • Fostering Employability, Innovation and Relevance in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities
  • Sustainability Challenges: Digital transformation within the higher education landscape.
  • Fostering Mobility, Regional and Inter-Regional Integration and Recognition in Higher Education.

About ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 and constitutes ten Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established, encompassing the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. The ASEAN Headquarters is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information, visit https://asean.org/

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About the European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is the economic and political union of 27 Member States with a population of 470 million. Together, the EU has built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedom. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the goals of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc, and the world's largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are the largest donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA), providing more than half of ODA globally.

The 27 Member States of the EU (in protocol order) are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

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