Thailand’s Mahidol University,  in collaboration with Kyushu University of Japan, hosted this year’s ASEAN in Today’s World (AsTW) Programme which brought together over 30 students from ASEAN and Japan in a two-week virtual programme.

“Our region’s digitally savvy, creative, and innovative young population can serve as a powerful source of ideas and energy that can propel our recovery efforts (from the COVID-19 pandemic),” said Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi, in his pre-recorded opening remarks.

Referring to the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, he underscored that the region cannot rely only on government-to-government efforts but must also embrace the full potential of the Community and the broader stakeholders, including through meaningful and equal participation of the youth.

Delegates of AsTW Consortium members delivered an address at the opening ceremony. The President of Kyushu University Prof. Tatsuro Ishibashi  reported the awarding of Young ASEAN Scholarships to 15 AsTW 2021 participants from ASEAN countries. The President of Mahidol University Prof. Banchong Mahaisavariya was also in attendance.

The ASEAN Secretariat facilitated a Special Lecture on ASEAN Youth Build Back Better as the first online class of the programme. The lecture was an interactive platform and safe space for participating students to share their comments and views on the ASEAN Community, education and skills development, as well as the future of work in the post-COVID-19 and fourth industrial revolution era. Throughout the presentation, the students actively asked questions, expressed their views and contributed to trivia quizzes and live polls.

The lecture ended with a breakout session on how students can overcome challenges and embrace opportunities during and after the pandemic.

Following its launch in 2009, Kyushu University has been annually organising the ASEAN in Today’s World programme in collaboration with a consortium of universities from ASEAN and Japan, notably Viet Nam National University, Ateneo de Manila University, Mahidol University, University of Malaya and Fukuoka Women’s University.

Mahidol University is set to host AsTW cohorts from 2021-2023, twelve years after hosting the inaugural programme in 2009. The ASEAN in Today’s World Programme contributes to the implementation of ASEAN Work Plan on Education towards advancing ASEAN studies at the higher education level through cross-border mobility.

More information is available on: https://isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/astw/