27 October 2022

Researchers and Experts from the UK and ASEAN +3 Gathered at UK-SEA PEER Concluding Hybrid Conference

By
AUN Writer Team

By Jose Ramil Reyes, AUN Intern

On 10 October 2022, the UK-Southeast Asia Partnerships and Exchanges Baseline Research (UK-SEA PEER) in collaboration with researchers from Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Lingnan University of Hong Kong, Fukuyama City University of Japan, SEAMEO Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training, Chulalongkorn University, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), and ASEAN University Network (AUN), hosted a hybrid conference and a roundtable dialogue discussion on the past, current, and future of the UK-SEA research partnerships, with the theme of “Co-creating Alternative and Sustainable Futures of UK-East Asia Partnerships.” Using Zoom as the main platform, a lot of participants from different universities and research institutions from the United Kingdom and ASEAN+3 countries gathered to learn more about the current state of research and innovation in the UK and ASEAN and how they can integrate, reorient, and align the existing agreements, as well as their visions, to the ongoing and future research and innovation partnerships.

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The conference officially commenced with welcoming and introductory remarks from Professor Richard Dashwood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of Coventry University. Subsequently, Dr. Que Anh Dang and Dr. Jie Ma, also from Coventry University, presented the PEER interactive maps with their introduction to the public and their implications for research partnerships. Talk 1 commenced with the presentation of Professor Katherine Wimpenny, Coventry University, UK; Dr. Fuangarun Preededilok, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; and Dr. Jaya Jacobo, Coventry University; to discuss the UK-East Asia TNE Partnerships: Trajectories and Alternative Educational Futures. On the other hand, Talk 2, in which UK-East Asia Research Partnerships: ‘For’ and ‘In’ the Future was presented by Professor Ka Ho Mok, of Lingnan University of Hong Kong and Dr. Que Anh Dang, Coventry University, UK. Furthermore, Talk 3, which is about Vocational Education and Training Partnerships: Past, Present, and Futures, was discussed by Dr. Paryono and Dr. Jaya Priah Kasinathan, SEAMEO VOTECH, Brunei.

After the series of discussions initiated by esteemed speakers, a roundtable discussion commenced where participants could raise relevant insights and inquiries regarding the subject matter and talk about the research partnerships between the UK and the ASEAN+3, with the moderation of Assoc. Professor Meng-Hsuan Chou, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and with the participation as panelists by Professor Terri Kim, East London University UK, and Yonsei University South Korea; Associate Professor Eva Hartmann, Cambridge University; Dr. Roger Chao, Head of Education, Youth and Sports Division at ASEAN Secretariat; Ms. Lotus Postrado, Director Philippines at British Council; Ms. Jane Delfino, Ph.D. candidate, Dual Award Ph.D. between the University of the Philippines, and the University of Reading (UK); Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Latiff Ahmad, The National University of Malaysia, and Ms. Janette Lister, Academic Partnership Development Manager, Coventry University. At the end of this hybrid conference, the closing remarks were delivered by representatives from the British Council, Coventry University, and Dr. Colitis Dhirathiti, Executive Director of ASEAN University Network.

The event ended successfully as participants could have a broader grasp on enhancing policies in relation to strengthening research partnerships and collaboration between the United Kingdom, ASEAN, and East Asia.

For more information about UK-SEA PEER, please visit https://peer.coventry.ac.uk/.