The 6th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMME6) took place on 21-22 November 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. The representatives of the 53 ASEM partners discussed the results of the bi-regional cooperation in the field of education in the last two years, as well as a common vision for the next decade of their cooperation. They adopted the Seoul Declaration titled “Enhancing Collaboration between Asia and Europe in Education and Training – A vision for the Next Decade“.
On this occasion, the partners of ASEF and stakeholders of the ASEM Education Process represented the students and universities, and ensured that civil society members also get a voice at the table. They also presented the policy recommendations of the
- 5th ASEM Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC5 – 4-8 April 2016, Prague) themed “Employability: Asia and Europe Prepare the New Generation“; and the
- 6th ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC6 – 12-13 October 2017, Singapore) themed “Future-ready Universities and Graduates: Quality Education Beyond the Horizon“
to the ministers.
The ASEAN University Network (AUN) highlighted the ARC5 Rectors’ Recommendations on (1) encouraging “employment-friendly” curriculum, (2) acknowledging the importance of work-study balance, and (3) better policies to address the challenges of the new economy. The European Association of Students’ Union presented the ARC5 Students’ Recommendations on (1) how to develop a continuous multi-stakeholder dialogue between policy makers and students, (2) the need to acknowledge work experience in the new economy, and (3) fostering mobility, accessibility, and funding.
The European University Association (EUA) summarized the ARC6 Rectors’ Policy Recommendations on (1) supporting forward-looking institutional missions, (2) connecting learning, teaching, research, and service, (3) acknowledging lifelong learning as a key mission of universities, and (4) ensuring accessibility towards quality education for all. The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) highlighted the ARC6 Students’ Policy Recommendations on (1) access to quality education, (2) lifelong learning, and (3) interdisciplinarity in education and research.
Several ministers’ endorsed the recommendations in their comments, and Romania announced its readiness to organise the next ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Student’s Forum, in conjuntion with the 7th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting in May 2019 in Bucharest, Romania.