This is the first in a series of dialogue events and took place online on 27 November 2022. In this session, the ARC9 researchers presented the initial findings of the study at the time while discussants gave questions and insights that contributed to the analysis of the data. Over 100 academics, students, policy makers and higher education experts joined us online to learn about the findings of this mapping exercise and engage in a discussion with each other.

You can check out our article on this session here to learn more.

On 18 July 2023, ASEF held this online dialogue workshop in partnership with the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). The session gathered 50 university managers and student leaders from ASEAN Plus Three higher education institutions (HEIs) to discuss the findings of the ARC9 research study and gather two sets of recommendations: one from university managers directed to policymakers, and another from student leaders addressed to university management.

Explore the full narrative report for this session where you can find the discussion highlights from both groups as well as the full list of recommendations here.

Policymakers and representatives of stakeholders involved in the ASEM Education Process gathered in the heart of Rome, Italy on 27-29 September 2023 for a policy dialogue aimed at discussing higher education’s role in sustainable development and pushing forward inter-regional cooperation on matters of common concern. This three-day event was co-organised by ASEF and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) Coordination Group on Global Policy Dialogue (CG GPD), made possible by the generous support of the ASEM Education Secretariat and Associazione CIMEA through the IN-GLOBAL Project.

Around 30 participants from 19 countries and organisations engaged in dialogue focused on generating policy recommendations based on the findings of the ARC9 research study. Another key goal of the event was to give a platform for EHEA and officials representing Asian higher education ministries to discuss preparations for the Global Policy Forum which will take place next year.

An interview between Dr Romyen KOSAIKANONT and Orla LYNCH, Strategic Policy Adviser of Ireland’s Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was also held in the sidelines of the policy dialogue. They exchanged ideas on a few topics, such as the value of dialogue opportunities and translating its results to actions, sharing of good practices between the two regions, and building stronger means to collaborate and partner. This interview, moderated by Ann Katherine ISAACS, can be watched in full here.

See the full update write-up and policy recommendation emerging from this workshop here.

For our last ARC9 policy dialogue, we had an inspiring exchange of ideas with 15 remarkable delegates from student and youth organisations in Asia and Europe about Higher Education Policies Working towards the SDGs in Asia and Europe! In partnership with the ASEAN Youth Organisation (AYO), we organised the ASEF Policy Dialogue with Youth as a side event to their flagship annual event, the ASEAN Youth Conference, which were held back-to-back from 2 to 5 November 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

We welcomed representatives from ASEFEdu’s longtime partner organisations such as the European Students’ Union (ESU), Erasmus Student Network (ESN), Global Student Forum (GSF), Student Think-Tank for Europe-Asia Relations (STEAR), and AYO. We are also proud to have representatives from new dialogue partners such as the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme Alumni Network, the Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) Youth Initiative, Asian Law Students’ Association (ALSA), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), and University of Santo Tomas (UST).

After the policy dialogue, our delegates proceeded to join 100+ other young leaders in the ASEAN Youth Conference 2023. This year, guided by the theme “Guardians of the Sustainable Future for a Resilient ASEAN,” AYC gathered international young leaders and changemakers who are keen to share their thoughts about various persisting challenges and opportunities in our society and help develop and implement international projects. 

You can find more information on this back-to-back event and policy recommendations of participants here.