BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 13 December 2021 – Over 120 student leaders from universities across ASEAN participated in the 5th ASEAN University Student Council Union (AUSCU) Conference which took place on 5 – 8 December to discuss the importance of youth concerted efforts and strategic pathways in light of the sustainable development in the post-pandemic era.
Themed “Youth Engagement: Prosperity of ASEAN in the Next-Normal,” the conference was supported by Brunei Youth Council, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN Secretariat and convened under the leadership of Muhammad Alif bin Mursidi, AUSCU President 2020-2021 from Brunei Darussalam. AUSCU Brunei Darussalam Chapter also lent its support for the on-site event.
In their opening remarks, Permanent Secretary Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, of Brunei Darussalam’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong encouraged delegates to use this platform to jointly navigate the region’s long-term sustainable socio-economic recovery strategies. Dayang Khairunnisa binti Awang Haji Ash’ari, Legislative Council Member and President of the Brunei Youth Council, was also in attendance.
At the conference, delegates agreed that the future leaders of ASEAN should look into encouraging the youth to embrace the new normal to ensure no one is left behind in the region’s development and to complement the government’s efforts in innovation, technology-savvy and engage in community building processes. Youth-led efforts are expected to help accelerate the socio-economic development and prosperity of the region.
Key takeaways from the conference were structured around the three sub-topics: youth engagement in building a prosperous community, education strategies and approach amidst and post-pandemic, and impacts of the digital economy on the future of jobs.
Highlights of the discussion include youth’s roles in fostering digital literacy, encouraging the lifelong learning, ensuring the inclusivity and equality as well as addressing controversial issues in technology such as ethics of AI, NFTs and cryptocurrency. A set of recommendations will be submitted by AUSCU to the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY).
The AUSCU Conference was organised for the first time in 2017 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN as part of the Japan East-Asia Network of Students and Youths (JENESYS) 2016 Program under the SOMY, with the support from the Government of Japan and ASEAN Secretariat.
Sessions of the 5th AUSCU Conference are available here:
First Plenary Session (Youth & Community)
Second Plenary Session (Education)
Third Plenary Session (Digital Economy)
