The European Higher Education Fair, financed by the European Commission's Asia-Link Programme, took place from 10th to 12th November 2006 at the Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok. On Friday 10th November 2006 an Asia-Link Symposium focusing on EU-Asia higher education policy and cooperation issues was held. This event was a platform for high-level dialogue between government officials, key senior managers and policy makers from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and Europe and representatives from higher education institutions and academic networks.
More than 250 participants attended the morning plenary session of the Asia-Link Symposium.
The Symposium also seeked to develop awareness of EU mechanisms and programmes. A matchmaking activity enabled representatives from European and Thai, Laotian and Cambodian higher education institutions to discuss possibilities for future cooperation.
More than 250 participants attended the morning plenary session of the Asia-Link Symposium.
The Symposium also seeked to develop awareness of EU mechanisms and programmes. A matchmaking activity enabled representatives from European and Thai, Laotian and Cambodian higher education institutions to discuss possibilities for future cooperation.
Asia-Link Symposium Programme Bangkok 2006
Please click here to download the online version of the Asia Link Symposium Programme as distributed at the event
Please click here to download the online version of the Asia Link Symposium Programme as distributed at the event
Plenary Session Speakers : bios of the speakers
- H.E. Lars Backström, Finnish Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar
His Excellency Mr Lars Backström occupied different positions in the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in different Finnish diplomatic missions in Mexico, Turkey, Nigeria, the United States and Belgium, before being appointed, in 2005, as Ambassador to Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
- Mr Erik Habers- Counsellor, Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand
Mr Erik Habers has been Counsellor at the Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand since mid-2003. He is responsible for the EU's cooperation activities in Thailand as well as for the EC's assistance programmes in Myanmar.
Mr Habers joined the European Commission in 1991. Prior to being appointed to Bangkok he worked on the preparation for enlargement of the EU in the domain of ICT and telecommunication.
- H.E Dr Friedrich Hamburger, Ambassador-Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand
H.E. Friedrich Hamburger holds a Doctorate in Law form the University of Vienna. Prior to joining the European Commission, Dr Hamburger occupied several position at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has notably been Plenipotentiary Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, at the Austrian Embassies in Ottawa and London.
Since joining the European Commission in 1995, Dr Hamburger worked in development and trade relations, before being appointed as cabinet Director of Mr Poul Nielson, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, in 2003. Subsequently, he was appointed Ambassador Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand in 2005.
- Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun- Vice-Minister of Education, Lao PDR
Ms. Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun studied Educational Administration and Numerical Analysis in Germany, Hungary and Australia. Before joining the Minstry of Education, Laos PDR, she worked as a lecturer of Mathematics at the Pedagogy Institute. She has also worked as an expert for secondary Education for UNESCO, and has been a member, since 1999 of the SEAMEO - RECSAM Governing Board, of which she has been a Vice President since 2003. Mrs Sengdeuane is Vice-Minister for Education, Lao PDR.
- Mr Erich Muller- Director, Asia and Central Asia, EuropeAid, European Commission, Brussels
Mr Muller entered the European Commission in 1974. He has occupied different position, mainly working in the field of Political, economic and development cooperation with developing countries. He was appointed Head of Unit - Economic and development cooperation with Asian countries in 1996. In 2001, he became Director for Co-operation with Asia.
Since 2005, he has been director for Co-operation with Asia including Central Asia.
- H.E. Prof Wichit Srisa-An - Minister of Education, Thailand
Prof Dr. Wichit Srisa-an is a graduate of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and earned his Ph.D overseas.
From 1987-1994 he held the position of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs and was Acting Secretary-General of the Civil Service Commission.
Prof. Dr. Wichit was Founding Rector of two autonomous universities in Thailand namely, Suranaree University of Technology, the first autonomous public university in the northeast of Thailand and Walailak University in the south of Thailand.
For more than 30 years, Prof. Dr. Wichit has dedicated himself to the development of Thai education. He has been actively involved in Thailand's educational policy and administration and has held several key positions within the education system. From 1991-1992, he was a Member of the National Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Committee on Education and Culture of the National Legislative Assembly.
Asia Link Symposium Presentations
We would like to thank H.E. Lars Backström, Finnish Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, who officially opened the ceremony.
We also would like to thank H.E. Prof Wichit Srisa-an, Minister of Education in Thailand for giving a welcome adress to the audience.
We herewith renew our expression of gratitude towards all participants and speakers who attended the event.
Please find below for reference, the presentations of the speakers during the morning panel and workshops of the Symposium.
Opening ceremony:
- H.E. Dr Kol Pheng- Minister of Education, Cambodia
- Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun- Vice-Minister of Education, Lao PDR
- Mr Erich Muller- Director, Asia and Central Asia, EuropAid, European Commission, Brussels
Session 1 : Panel Session: Internationalisation of Higher Education:
Challenges and cooperation opportunities for EU and Thai-Lao-Cambodian higher education institutions
Chair: H.E Dr Friedrich Hamburger, Ambassador-Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand
Members of the panel:
- H.E. Prof Wichit Srisa-An - Minister of Education, Thailand
- H.E. Dr Kol Pheng- Minister of Education, Cambodia
- Mrs Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun- Vice-Minister of Education, Lao PDR
- Mr Erich Muller- Director, Asia and Central Asia, EuropAid, European Commission, Brussels
- Prof Khunying Suchada Kiranandana- President, Chulalongkorn University
Prof Khunying Suchada KiranandanaSession 2 : European Commission Higher Education Co-operation Programmes and Initiatives (plenary session)
1- Higher education cooperation in the framework of EU cooperation policy towards Asia- lessons learned and perspectives
Mr Vincent Piket - Head of Unit, Centralised Operations for Asia, D2, EuropeAid Cooperation Office, European Commission, Brussels
Mr. Vincent Piket2- Erasmus Mundus
Mr Vito Borrelli- European Commission, DG Education and Culture (EAC), Brussels
Mr. Vito Borrelli 3- The 7th Framework Programme for Research
Mr Pierrick Fillon-Ashida- European Commission, DG Research (RTD), Brussels
Mr. Pierrick Fillon-AshidaPanel moderator: Mr Erik Habers- Counsellor, Delegation of the European Commission in Thailand
Session 3 (break-up)
Topic 1: Environment and Sustainable Development- Case Studies Presentation (Asia-Link Project)
1- CITYBLUES: Practical implementation of Ecological and Engineering Principles in Integrated Storm Management
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jean Lacoursière - Kristianstad University (HRk), Project leader CITYBLUES
Dr. Seak Sophat - Deputy Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Cambodian project co-ordinator CITYBLUES
Dr. Jean Lacoursière and Dr. Seak Sophat 2- Curricula Development of Technology Oriented Sustainable Resource Management in China and Thailand
Prof Wu Ke - University of Applied Sciences and Arts ildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Germany, Project Leader "Curricula Development of Technology Oriented Sustainable Resource Management in China and Thailand"
Assoc. Prof. Wongpun Limpaseni - Department of Environmental engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, Thai project co-ordinator "Curricula Development of Technology Oriented Sustainable Resource Management in China and Thailand"
Prof Wu Ke and Assoc. Prof Wongpun Limpaseni3- Open learning Provision for Postgraduate and Industrial Training in Sustainable Technology
Prof Mike Purvis- University of Portsmouth, UK, project leader "Open Learning Provision for Postgraduate and Industrial Training in Sustainable Technology"
Prof Alvin Culaba- De la Salle University, Philippines, Philippines project co-ordinator "Open Learning Provision for Postgraduate and Industrial Training in Sustainable Technology"
Prof Alvin CulabaPanel moderator: Assoc. Prof. Sengprasong Phrakonkham- National University of Laos, Lao Project Co-ordinator "Environmental Engineering and Management - Establishment of a Master Programme at the National University of Laos"
Topic 2: Institution building - Building External Partnerships - Case Studies Presentation (Asia-Link Projects)
1- Upgrading Institutional Capacity of Industry Relations Offices in Two Universities of ASEAN Countries
Dipl-kfm Andrea Engelen- Lecturer, Aachen University, Germany, Project "Upgrading Institutional Capacity of Industry Relations Offices in Two Universities of ASEAN Countries"
Dipl-kfm Andrea EngelenDr Achara Chandrachai - Industry Relations Office, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, Thai project Co-ordinator "Upgrading Institutional Capacity of Industry Relations Offices in Two Universities of ASEAN Countries"
2- EU-Asia Network of Competence Enhancement on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure Development
Dr Andrea Jungbecker, Bauhaus Universität Weimar, Germany, Project Leader "EU-Asia Network of competence Enhancement on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure Development"
Dr Andrea JungbeckerProf Stephen Ogunlana, Asian Institute of Technologies (AIT), Thailand, "EU-Asia Network of Competence Enhancement on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure Development" Thailand project Co-ordinator
3- Centres of excellence for Tuberculosis/HIV- Strengthening institutional training and research capacity
Dr Haripurnomo Kushadiwijaya & Dr Riris Andono Ahmad- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, Indonesian co-ordinator "Centres of excellence for Tuberculosis/HIV- Strengthening institutional training and research capacity"
Dr Haripurnomo Kushadiwijaya & Dr Riris Andono AhmadPanel moderator: Mr. Arnold van Wulfften Palthe, International Agrarische Hogeschool Larenstein, Project Leader "Developing food and agribusiness in the Mekong Region
Session 4 (break-up)
Topic 1: Being a successful Asia-Link project leader - Panel discussion
- Dr Surasi Vadhanavikit - Walailak University, Thailand, Project Leader "Human Resource Development through Problem-Based Learning (PBL)"
Dr Surasi Vadhanavikit- Dr. Pietro P. Masina - Roskilde University (Denmark), Project Leader "Project cycle management and participatory methodologies"
Dr Pietro P. Masina- Dr Bounpong Keorodom- Vice-President for Planning and International Co-operation, National University of Laos (NuoL), Lao co-ordinator "Strengthening Existing Partnerships between South East Asian and EU Universities in the Field of rural Economics"
Dr Bounpong Keorodom- Dr Kyoko Kusakabe - Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, Project Leader "Gender, Development and Public Policy Studies in the Asian Context"
Dr Kyoko KusakabePanel moderator: Mr Vincent Piket - Head of Unit, Centralised Operations for Asia, European Commission, EuropeAid Cooperation Office
Topic 2: Asia-Europe: emerging co-operation
1- The ASEAN-EU Rectors Workshop: Enhancing ASEAN-EU Higher Education Cooperation: results and follow-up
Assoc Prof. Dr. Piniti Ratananukul, Executive Director, AUN Secretariat (Thailand)
Dr. Ratananukul2- Enhancing QA in ASEAN
Ms Marijke Wahlers, Head of Section Asia, Australia and Oceania, HRK (Germany)
Ms Marijke WahlersPanel moderator: Dr Ulises Cortes- Technical University of Catalonia, project co-ordinator, "Encouraging and stimulating future RTD cooperation in the field of information society technologies between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region (Engage)"