1. HIGHER EDUCATION HARMONIZATION IN ASEAN: THE ROLES OF ASEAN UNIVERSITY NETWORK (AUN)
Assoc.Prof. Nantana Gajaseni, Ph.D.
Executive Director of ASEAN University Network

2. Current situation of ASEAN and higher education trends?

3. ASEAN Macro-economic Facts
+625 million
people
2,400 billion
USD in GDP
600 billion
USD for Intra-ASEAN Trade
7th Largest
Economy of the world
4th Largest
“one vision, one identity, one community”
Economy of the world by 2050

4. Number of Higher Education Institutions in ASEAN
>7,000 HEIs in ASEAN
SEAMEO-RIHED (2014)
6 July 2015

5. ASEAN Higher Education in Focus by Economic Status:
Low/Low-middle income: C, L, M, V
Policy reform & system expansion
Increasing student enrollment
Enhancing Infrastructure development
Quality Assurance Development and Implementation
Quality Improvement
Internationalisation
Middle income: In, My, Ph, Th
High income:
Brunei - more independent and expand global partnerships
Singapore - well-developed with high international recognition
Education systems reflect economic, social, political, religious and philosophical differences that must be respected.

6. Current Situation of ASEAN Higher Education:
Economic status
Countries
Current situation
Lower income
Low-middle income
Cambodia,
Lao PDR,
Myanmar,
Viet Nam
High enrolment demand
Threaten of education quality
Less access on equity
Lack of human resource & financial support
High demand on qualified faculty & staff
More opportunity for private HEIs
Emphasis more on teaching for skill improvement
Middle-income
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Emphasis on education quality
Less public expenditure by shifting cost to students
Emphasis more on research-oriented policy
Controlled/limited oversea branch campuses
High-income
Brunei
Increase public expenditure
More international academic cooperation
Singapore
Emphasis more on cutting-edge R&D and innovation
Emphasis on excellence, international profile & partnerships
Hosting oversea branch campuses (13)
The current higher education development systems in ASEAN Member States can be classified in relation to national economic status.
-For HE in focus in GMS countries, it clearly identifies that GMS counties are emphasizing on policy reform & system expansion, increasing enrollment, infrastructure development and quality assurance development and implementation.
-While the middle-income countries are emphasis on quality improvement and internationalization, which they have achieved the development and implementation of quality assurance system and move forwards for improvement purpose in order to meet the international standard for uplifting international recognition.
-For high-income countries, they have different focuses due to well-developed with high level of international recognition.
**Modified from “Higher Education Across Asia (2011)” and “Higher Education in Asia (2014)”

7. Effects of ASEAN Integration on Higher Education?
Regional Integration Higher Education Development
Effects of ASEAN Integration on Higher Education?
Raising the demand on higher education (Massification!)
Increasing cross-border education flux/mobility
Increasing pressure on educcation quality from society
Expanding the diversification of higher education providers
Widening gap of access in higher education
Opening up a potential investment on higher education
Accelerating regional academic cooperation/networking
Enhancing possible regional brain circulation through academic exchange
Accelerating the harmonization of higher education systems
Shifting the cost of higher education from public funding to students
Demanding on high skill qualified workforce/professionals to support AEC-ASEAN Integration
Challenges!

8. Since 31 Dec 2015 Free flow of capital/investment
Free flow of goods & services
Free flow of information & knowledge
Free flow of people
An integrated community will accelerate the pace of structural change, and is expected to generate some 14 million additional jobs by 2025.

9. AEC
APSC
ASCC
Now, ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has officially opened since 31 December 2015.
ASEAN Vision 2025
ASCC Blueprint 2025
inclusive
sustainable
Resilient
Dynamics
ASEAN Work Plan on Education ( )
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education (Nov 2015)

10. EDUCATION ASEAN WORK PLAN 2016-2020 ON ASCC ASCC Blueprint 20125
inclusive
sustainable
Resilient
Dynamics
ASEAN Work Plan on Education ( )
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
ASEAN WORK PLAN ON
EDUCATION

11. 8 Sub-Goals of ASEAN 5-Year Work Plan on Education (2016-2020)
Promote ASEAN Awareness
• 3 Priority Areas
• 18 Activities 1
Enhance quality and access to basic education
especially for disabled and marginalised groups
• 2 Priority Areas
• 6 Activities 2 3
Strengthen use of ICT
• 2 Priority Areas
• 5 Activities
Support the development of TVET and lifelong learning
• 3 Priority Areas
• 8 Activities 4

12. 7 5 6 8 Strengthen higher education sector through QA
Complement efforts of other sectors in ESD
• 2 Priority Areas
• 3 Activities 5
Strengthen higher education sector through
• 1 Priority Area
• 4 Activities QA 6 7
Foster role of higher education through University- Industry Partnership
• 1 Priority Area
• 3 Activities
Provide capacity building programmes for teachers and community
• 3 Priority Areas 8

13. ASEAN UNIVERSITY NETWORK???

14. 1995 Charter of the ASEAN University
1992 The 4th ASEAN Summit, the call for cooperation in the field of higher education and human resource development
1995 Charter of the ASEAN University
Network was signed by the ASEAN
Ministers responsible for higher
education.
Agreement on the Establishment
of the ASEAN University Network
was signed by the Presidents, Rectors
and Vice-Chancellors of participating
universities.
2008 One of
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Body responsible for higher education cooperation and development.

15. AUN Mandate
Strengthen the existing network of cooperation among universities in ASEAN and beyond;
Promote collaborative study, research and educational programmes in the priority areas identified by ASEAN;
Promote cooperation and solidarity among scholars, academicians and researchers in the ASEAN Member States;
Serve as the policy platform on higher education development in the ASEAN region.

16. “AUN Membership Enlargement”
AUN is The first and only higher education network under ASEAN.
As the host country, the Royal Thai Government provides financial support for the operational costs of the AUN Secretariat.
(6 countries)
(10 countries) 11 17 20 21 22 26 30
Without location/ only map
1999
2006
2007
2009
2010
2013
1995
“AUN Membership Enlargement”

17. MQA International Seminar 18 Oct 2016
ASEAN University Network (AUN): Network of leading universities initiated by ASEAN since 1995
MQA International Seminar 18 Oct 2016

18. 2016 AUN-SAN
2016 AUN-DPP
12 AUN Thematic Networks!!

19. ASEAN University Network
AUN Composition & Activities
Policy Platform
Academic Staff
Students
Policy-makers
(University’s Presidents/Rectors/VCs)
Other Stakeholders
ASEAN University Network
Our Stakeholders &
Our Key Result Areas
Academic Conference/Seminar
President Networking
Academic Networking
Resource Support
Student Mobility
Technical Support
Student Activities / Networking

20. What have aun done in higher education development for asean integration???

21. AUN is serving ASEAN 5-year Work Plan on Education (2011-2015)
Priority 1– Promoting ASEAN awareness
P riority2B –Increasing the quality of education‐performance, standards, lifelong learning and professional development
Priority 3 –Cross‐border mobility and internationalization of education
Projects
Activities
% Non-members 31 77
63% 35 64
60% 32 76
51%

22. inclusive sustainable Resilient Dynamics AEC ASCC ASCC Blueprint 20125
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
ASEAN Work Plan on Education ( )
ASCC Blueprint 20125
inclusive
sustainable
Resilient
Dynamics
AEC

23. Roles of AUN in ASEAN Work Plan on Education (2016-2020)
SUB-GOAL 1: Promote ASEAN awareness through strengthening of Southeast Asian history and indigenous knowledge.
PRIORITY AREA 1.1: Enhancing ASEAN awareness through exchange programmes for ASEAN students and youth
PRIORITY AREA 1.2: Promoting a culture of peace and understanding through education in contributing towards peaceful and harmonious ASEAN
Community
PRIORITY AREA 1.3: Advancing ASEAN Studies Programme and courses at higher education level through online and cross-border mobility

24. Roles of AUN SUB-GOAL 3: Strengthen the use of ICT
PRIORITY AREA 3.1: Expanding and improving human and institutional capacity in educational software development and online instructional design to enhance access to quality education
SUB-GOAL 6: Strengthen the higher education sector through the implementation of robust quality assurance mechanisms
PRIORITY AREA 6.1: Developing harmonised quality assurance mechanisms within the context of ASEAN
SUB-GOAL 7: Foster the role of higher education in the area of socio-economic development through University-Industry Partnership
PRIORITY AREA 7.1: Developing stronger linkages between universities, industries, and communities

25. Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
ASCC
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
ASEAN Work Plan on Education ( )
ASCC Blueprint 20125
inclusive
sustainable
Resilient
Dynamics
AEC
Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education
endorsed by ASEAN Leaders at the 27th ASEAN Summit (21 November 2015)

26. Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education (Summary)
AUN Strategic Goals:
G1. Quality Gap Narrowed
G2. Emerging Priorities Engaged
G3. Exposure Expanded
G4. In-depth Awareness
G5. Teaching & Learning
AUN Strategic Goals (G1-G5) have already been serving these areas under KL Declaration on Higher Education.
ASEAN Higher Education for HRD
Quality education
Intra-ASEAN mobility of students & scholars
Triple-Helix-Plus cooperation
(U-G-I-C)
Diversity HE for Innovation-driven ASEAN community
Contribute and foster sustainable local community development
Increase visibility of ASEAN HE globally
G2.
G2.&G5.
G3.&G4.
G2.&G4.
G1.,G2.,G3.&G4.
G1.

27. AUN & Roles to Support Higher Education Development in ASEAN
ACTS GRADING
SCALE
ONLINE
LIST of AVAILABLE COURSES (>19,000)
ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM
Internationalization of Higher Education
AUN
Youth & Student Mobility
ASEAN Credit Transfer System
(ACTS)
“Student First”
Harmonisation of Higher Education Quality
(AUN-QA)
“A Touch of Quality”
AIM for “3Es”….New Paradigm Shift of Mobility….
EXPLORING new learning environment
EXPOSING international experiences
ENHANCING student’s soft skills

28. Higher Education Harmonisation Mechanism
Ensure “Quality Education” & “Expected Competencies”
Promote “Student Mobility”
Enhance “Professional/workforce mobility”
No QA…No QF
AUN
Quality Assurance
Credit Transfer
System
AQRF
facilitate
AUN-QA
AUN-ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS)
ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework (AQRF)

29. Supporting ASEAN Skilled workers and Professional Services Mobility
Are universities just fulfilling base line standards? Domestic or global market?
ASEAN Economic Community
Free movement of Services ASEAN MRA
(Professional bodies)
Free movement of skilled workers
ASEAN MRA –Skills Sector
ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF)
ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF)
Device for comparison
Referencing system
10 National Qualifications Framework and EQA system

30. Challenges for Higher Education Harmonisation in ASEAN
1. System & regulatory support
2. Quality recognition (QA & QF)
3. Information dissemination
4. Financial support

31. How can we achieve the higher education harmonisation in ASEAN?
working together
understanding and respecting our differences
selflessly sharing our expertise and resources toward
“one true goal”

32. WE ARE TOGETHER GROWING AS ONE.
AUN
UNIVERSITY’S POLICY SUPPORT
PARTICIPATION
RESOURCE PERSONS
KNOWLEDGE & IDEAS SHARING
GOOD PRACTICES
COST - SHARING
With strong commitments of our Member Universities,
WE ARE TOGETHER GROWING AS ONE.

33. Thank You More information at Website: www.aunsec.org Facebook Page:
ASEAN University Network