In a significant step towards fostering regional academic collaboration, the Rector of Universitas Brawijaya, Prof. Widodo, and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Imam Santoso, participated in the ASEAN Higher Education Conference (AHEC) held at Universitas Padjajaran in Bandung.
The AHEC 2023 has yielded diverse policy recommendations to bolster the role of higher education institutions in advancing the ASEAN region. This conference produced three notable recommendations from different events within AHEC 2023:
- The first set of recommendations emerged from the AHEC Communique Webinar Series and the Ambassador Town Hall Meeting, held from June 7th, 2023 to August 16th, 2023. These recommendations center around fostering collaboration and coordination with stakeholders and governments to formulate policies and infrastructure related to technology transfer and digital literacy.
- The ASEAN Alumni Meeting on August 23rd, 2023, delivered the second set of recommendations. These recommendations emphasize the need to transform ASEAN campuses into centers of excellence, promote cross-disciplinary research, and enhance collaboration among alumni through strong networks.
- The third set of recommendations emerged from the ASEAN Youth Forum, also held on August 23rd, 2023. These recommendations were declared during the AHEC 2023 international conference, focusing on themes such as digital infrastructure enhancement, cybersecurity, sustainable development goals (SDGs) implementation, and youth participation in shaping policies.
The ASEAN Youth Forum’s declaration included 10 commitments to support inclusivity, technological literacy, and sustainable economic development, among others. The ASEAN Alumni Meeting declaration featured six points highlighting the transformation of education systems, collaboration, and support for innovative knowledge application.
Lastly, the third declaration resulted from the AHEC Communique Webinar Series and Ambassador Town Hall Meeting. Rektor Unpad Prof. Rina Indiastuti delivered these recommendations, which encompassed processes to accelerate digital innovation and transformation in ASEAN higher education.
For the full details of these declarations and recommendations, please refer to the official news article.