6th ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum #ARC6

Since its establishment in 2008, the ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC) has been a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for university leaders, business representatives, policy makers and students to discuss higher education issues and shape the education landscape in Asia-Europe.

ARC is recognised as the Official Dialogue Partner of the ASEM Education Ministers Meeting (ASEM ME). The results deriving from ARC, including policy recommendations and research, feed into the preparations of the ASEM MEs. As part of the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development (GAP), ARC also contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a focus on Goal 4 and 8 (on inclusive and quality education, and decent work and economic growth respectively).

ARC takes place on an annual basis alternating between Asia and Europe. It addresses 3 areas in higher education: 1) quality and inclusive education, 2) university governance, and 3) university-business partnerships. To date, over 650 university leaders representing 225 universities from 51 Asian and European countries have participated in the conferences. 

The 6th edition of the ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC6) addressed the topic of “Future Universities and Graduate: Quality Education Beyond the Horizon” and gathered over 200 representatives from academia, governments, business and industry, students and youth associations as well as NGOs and IGOs.

The ARC6 consisted of 2 programme elements: 1) a Students’ Forum 2) followed by a Rectors’ Conference. Close linkages between the Rectors’ and the Students’ was ensured through a synergic exchange in which 2 Rectors’ attended the Students’ Forum as Mentors and several Students’ participate throughout the Rectors’ Conference.

Specifically, ARC6 aimed to:

• Contribute to the policy dialogue on higher education in Asia and Europe and provide input to the agenda of ASEM Education Ministers
• Support the implementation of the SDG
• Facilitate cooperation and long-term partnerships among universities across Asia and Europe
• Enable collaborations among student networks and associations
• Strengthen the linkages between universities, governments, business and industry, IOs and NGOs, and local communities

*For Students’ Forum (9-12 October 2017):
The organisers will provide participants with travel subsidy, meals and accommodation

For Rectors’ Conference (12-13 October 2017):
The organisers will provide travel grants based on financial needs and meals.