Education And Academic Cooperation

Education is the foundation upon which an individual matures and a society advances. With the development of countries closely tied to the progress in national education programmes, ASEF has set in motion a series of programmes aimed at bolstering collaboration among education networks and academic institutions across Asia and Europe. Our workshops, seminars and conferences breed keen academic discourse and intercultural exchanges that have seen best practices implemented at these institutions. Continued Asia-Europe cooperation in education has also given rise to diverse ASEF projects including web portals, newsletters and several publications.

Asia-Europe Co-operation in Voluntary Service – 4^th Networking Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Conference (NAEYV)

6 – 12 February 2011
Semarang, Indonesia

Above : From L-R: Mr Jinsu Yom, CCIVS President; Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat, ASEF Governor for Indonesia; Mr Masanori Nagaoka, Programme Specialist for Culture of UNESCO Jakarta; and Mr Francesco Volpini, Director of CCIVS

The 4^th Networking Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Conference (NAEYV) sought to promote the visibility and values of International Voluntary Service (IVS) as one of the main nonformal education (NFE) tools in Asia and Europe. The seven-day event set out to:

• Share research outcomes of the 9^th Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Exchange on the impact of IVS;
• Showcase the current IVS schemes and legal frameworks on volunteering;
• Identify stakeholders interested in establishing and marketing an Asian Voluntary Service;
• Encourage cross-sectoral co-operation between different voluntary service stakeholders; and
• Develop spin-off initiatives in IVS.

Attended by 35 participants, the Conference comprised a two-day strategic meeting with 18 representatives from IVS organisations, and a conference that included 17 representatives from governments, universities and other stakeholders.

In partnership with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) in cooperation with the Indonesia International Work Camp (IIWC).

ASEFUAN/IGIR Dialogue on Trade and Public Health

8 April and 6 May 2011
Brussels, Belgium

Attended by representatives from diverse sectors including academia, government, private institutions and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), the ASEFUAN Dialogue opened the floor for young leaders and experts to air their opinions on topics strongly related to their future.

Brussels Campus of the Massatricht University hosted the two Dialogues on “Trade and Public Health” and “Trade and Competition in the Pharmaceutical Sector” on 8 April and 6 May respectively.

In partnership with the ASEF University Alumni Network (ASEFUAN), Institute for Globalisation and International Regulation (IGIR), and Maastricht University.

3^rd Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME3)

9 – 10 May 2011
Copenhagen, Denmark

Organised by the Danish Ministry of Education in Copenhagen, the 3^rd Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME3) shined the spotlight on four major areas – balanced mobility, engaging business and industry in education, lifelong learning (LLL) including vocational education and training (VET), and quality assurance and recognition.

ASEF was on hand to present the results of the ASEM Education Hub’s (AEH) activities from 2009 to 2010. ASEMME4 will be hosted by the government of Malaysia in 2013.

2^nd Asia-Europe Education Workshop

5 – 7 June 2011
Innsbruck, Austria

Above : From L-R: Mag. Elmar Pichl (Chief of Cabinet to the Minister for Science and Research and Deputy, Director General, Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research), Prof Dr Margret Friedrich (Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students, University of Innsbruck), Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Khanh (Deputy Executive Director, ASEF), Prof Erich Thoni (Workshop Convenor and University Representative for International Relations, University of Innsbruck) at the Opening Session of the Workshop

From across Europe and Asia, 26 individuals comprising university leaders and staff, researchers and students, policy makers and business and media practitioners gathered at the 2^nd Asia-Europe Education Workshop to debate "Knowledge Societies: Universities and the Social Responsibilities".

Organised by ASEF and the University of Innsbruck, the event saw participants making three recommendations, namely:

1. The promotion of the Universities Social Responsibility (USR) agenda through continuous dialogue with stakeholders;
2. The identification of a (minimum) USR paradigm; and
3. The pursuit of evidence-based USR policies.

USR will be one of the major themes to be discussed at the 3^rd ASEM Rectors’ Conference in the Netherlands in September 2012.

In partnership with the University of Innsbruck, with the support of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research as well as of Economy, Family and Youth, the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the Province of the Tyrol, the Town of Innsbruck, the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research, the ASEA-Uninet, and Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

1^st ASEFUAN International Voluntary Service (IVS) Work Camp

1 – 17 July 2011
Ulu Tembeling, Malaysia

Above : ASEFUAN volunteers enjoying lunch with their hospitable host families

At Kampung Bukit Mat Daling, a remote village near Terengganu, Malaysia, six ASEFUAN participants from six ASEM countries and around 30 local participants attended the 17-day ASEFUAN International Voluntary Service Work Camp (IVS). Aimed at encouraging bonding and intercultural exchange in a community and work-based setting, the work camp was first conceived at the 4^th Networking Conference for Asian and European Young Volunteers (NAEYV) held in Indonesia in February 2011.

In partnership with Service Civil International (SCI), Service Civil International Malaysia (SCI Malaysia) and Yayasan Salam Malaysia.

ASEFUAN Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Academic Conference

3 – 5 August 2011
The Netherlands

Above : Tom van Steen (AU15), raising a point during the discussions (Photo by Timo Uustal)

With the theme “Securing Public Health in a Globalised World”, ASEFUAN’s Academic Conference provided a platform for academicians, professionals and government officials from around the globe to explore topics spanning Asian and European perspectives on epidemics and pandemics, access to medicines and public-private partnerships in public health, to the challenges of ageing societies and the role of technology and innovative approaches. In attendance were a total of 57 ASEFUAN members, 13 external participants and 25 speakers.

Following the two-day event, a Model ASEM conference featuring a simulation of a public health crisis was held where participants represented the heads of the ASEM states, the European Commission and ASEAN. The conference was organised in conjunction with ASEFUAN’s 10^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which fell on 5 August and featured a review of past and future activities of the network as well as the election of a new Executive Committee.

Organised by ASEFUAN in partnership with the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Supporting the event were the Australian Embassy, the Amsterdam Municipality, Philips Research, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, the Wemos Foundation and Air France/KLM.

10^th Asia-Europe Classroom Network Conference

7 – 11 November 2011
Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Appropriately themed “Apps in Asian and European Classrooms! Unleashing Educational Creativity”, the 10^th Asia-Europe Classroom Network Conference highlighted the current technologies that could assist in extending creativity in the classrooms. Attended by 113 participants from 33 ASEM countries including six student representatives, the five-day event consisted of presentations by invited speakers and five workshops showcasing creative apps and tools that could prove useful to educators from both continents.

In partnership with the County Louth Vocational Education Committee and supported by the Department of Education and Skills and the National Tourism Development Authority.

Asia in the Eyes of Europe

Throughout 2011
Various venues in Asia and Europe

Above : H.E. Lü Yongshou (Centre), ASEF Governor for China, addresses participants of the workshop

Spearheaded by ASiE, Asia in the Eyes of Europe is an insightful research project that sheds light on the public and media perceptions of Asia in Europe. Combining three research elements – public opinion surveys, daily media analysis and interviews of high level media professionals and conducted in eight European Union (EU) member states, the research uncovers vital information on public and media attitudes towards Asia.

The project spelt a busy year for ASiE. After the completion of data collection, the ASiE research teams presented the findings at the “Asia in the Eyes of Europe – Methodology Workshop” in Beijing from 6 to 9 March and took the opportunity to interview Beijing-based foreign correspondents. In September, a final workshop was held in Vienna where the teams released the full research findings, followed by a brief of local diplomats and stakeholders in a public event, “Asia in the Eyes of Europe – Challenges and Opportunities for External Relations with Asia”, which took place on 27 September.

The publication of the findings will be available in June 2012.

Activities in 2011

Asia in the Eyes of Europe Methodology Workshop 6-9 March 2011: Beijing, China

Asia in the Eyes of Europe: Methodology Workshop 25-27 September 2011: Vienna, Austria

Asia in the Eyes of Europe - Challenges and Opportunities for External Relations with Asia 27 September 2011: Vienna, Austria

In partnership with the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) – University of Canterbury; German Council for Foreign Relations (DGAP); Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS); Tsinghua University; Austrian Institute of International Affairs (OIIP); Brussels Institute for Contemporary Chinese Studies (BICCS); Copenhagen Business School; Centre Asie – Institut Francais des Relations Internationales (IFRI); University of Siena; Romanian Institute for European - Asian Studies (IRSEA) and the London School of Economics (LSE).

ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub)

The ASEM LLL Hub collaborated with its research networks to organise a series of meetings in 2011. These included:

• Research Network 1:
  E-learning in ASEM countries
  (14-15 November 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
• Research Network 2:
  Workplace Learning
  (11-13 July 2011, Innsbruck, Austria)
• Research Network 3:
  Professionalisation of Adult Teachers and Trainers in ASEM countries
  (9-10 December 2011, Makati City, Philippines)
• Research Network 4:
  National Strategies for Lifelong Learning
  (12-13 December 2011, Shanghai, China)
• Research Network 5:
  Core Competences
  (8-9 September 2011, Riga, Latvia)

The Hub also launched the inaugural ASEMagazine for Lifelong Learning in the final quarter of 2011. More information on the organisation’s activities can be found at www.dpu.dk/asem/.

In partnership with the ASEM LLL Hub Secretariat, supported by the Danish School of Education (DPU), Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ASEM Ministries of Education (MOEs) and LLL Hub partner universities.

EU through the Eyes of Asia After Lisbon - Perceptions of the EU

Providing key information on attitudes towards the EU is the EU through the Eyes of Asia research project. Carried out in ten Asian ASEM member countries, it has reached the next stage in the project and is currently studying public media and opinion-leader perceptions of the EU across Asia in a post-Lisbon Treaty era.

The project continues to grow under the management of ASEF’s long-standing partner, NCRE. In 2011, extensive media analysis and face-to-face interviews have been conducted by research teams in Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. In support of the research efforts, ASEF hosted a workshop, “EU through the Eyes of Asia: After Lisbon – Perceptions of the EU”, and public briefing, “The EU as a Global Power – Still a Work in Progress? Media Coverage and Framing of the EU in 2011”, in July 2011. Held in Singapore, it showcased the research’s initial findings.

2012 will see ASEF take on a greater role in the project as it completes the research components and boosts project outreach in time for the publication of the findings which will be released in December 2012.

In partnership with the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE) – University of Canterbury.