On November 17, the opening ceremony of the 7th P2A Annual General Meeting was held at DTU, with 135 ASEAN universities attending. The event lasted 4 days.
The objective of this year’s event was to evaluate the 2020-2023 performance results, share information on all activities, hold discussions, develop plans, and establish development strategies for the next time period. Topics included the improvement of professional skills and entrepreneurial creativity; academic exchanges; research support; internship and employment in various ASEAN countries; and the development of humanitarian community activities.
Representatives from 135 ASEAN universities attend. Photo: DTU
The meeting broadened prospects of new development projects, foreign exchanges with ASEAN university students, and enabled the members to share their experiences, learn more, and cooperate with each other on research activities.
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co, DTU President, said: “With technology developing as fast as it now is, we must cooperate on developing new education and research systems to cope with climate change and constantly evolving technological advances.”
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co, DTU President
Mr. Jerome Schedler, Director of P2A Strategic Planning and Development and Assistant-Rector of Internationalization at Rangsit University, affirmed that P2A has initiated many strong member partnerships over the years. Participating in P2A programs enables students in the region to get to know each other and support one another to realize their dreams. "We build our P2A network based on trust and passion," he emphasized.
Several experts offered highly practicable solutions, with topics including: "The future of education and academic exchange in the age of Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization", by Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Educational Advisor at the Department of Future Education in the ASEAN Secretariat; and “P2A student exchange programs” by Mr. Lim Teng Leng, P2A Acting-Director of Foreign Affairs, from the International Relations Department at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore.
Experts discuss strategies for developing the international student community. Photo: DTU
Dr. Le Nguyen Tue Hang, DTU Vice-Provost and Director of the P2A Secretariat, said that the pandemic severely restricted foreign exchange programs. However, during that time, P2A actually grew stronger during the outbreak through many new and different communication channels. P2A now actually organizes more activities for ASEAN students than before, with the number of members doubling since the pandemic struck.
"I believe that, if we have traveled this far during the pandemic, we will continue to go much further, based on solidarity, commitment and a lot of care for each other.", affirmed Dr. Tue Hang.
The Passage to ASEAN (P2A) is a non-profit Network, established in 2012 by five Institutes of Higher Education, namely:Rangsit University in Thailand; Duy Tan University in Vietnam, Norton University in Cambodia; the National University in Laos; and the Myanmar Computer Institute.
P2A has now expanded to encompass 135 ASEAN universities, colleges and research institutes, including three new members: the Saigon Business School, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna in the Philippines and Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines
(Media Center)