AUS-AUN Engagement: AUN Secretariat and Study NSW Updated on Past Progress and Explored Potentials Ahead

By Saruta Srichoosin and Soranee Chuyingsakultip, AUN Programme Officers

As of present, ASEAN University Network (AUN) is spearheading various high-impacted programmes aimed at empowering ASEAN universities in strengthening their institutional capabilities and bolstering their internationalisation efforts. These initiatives encompass a broad range of universities’ operational and academic areas including Cross-border Research/Academic Collaboration, Student Mobility, Qualifications Transformation, University’s IT Capabilities, University English Language Capabilities Building, Internal Quality Assurance, and Institutional-Level Quality Enhancement.

Acknowledged as a crucial driver and enabler for nurturing and enhancing human resources in ASEAN higher education, AUN is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance English language capabilities in ASEAN higher education. In a recent visit to the Network’s Australian partners in February-March 2024, the AUN Secretariat further explored collaborative opportunities with international partners to promote systematic and regional English language capability training for academic staff, instructors, and professionals from ASEAN higher education institutions.

From February 26 to March 7, 2024, the AUN, in collaboration with AFG Venture Group, a long-standing partner of AUN since 2019, engaged with Australian partners in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and Perth under the ASEAN-Australia Education Dialogue (AAED). During this 10-day visit, discussions were held to explore mutual priorities and possible opportunities between AUN and Australian universities associations, governmental agencies, and higher education institutions as follows:  

• Study NSW
• Open Learning
• Universities Australia (UA)
• Department of Education
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Colombo Plan, Aus4ASEAN
• Times Higher Education Asia Pacific
• Study Melbourne and AAED organising the Victorian Universities-AUN Roundtable meeting 
• Ambassador of the Lao PDR to Australia and New Zealand
• Western Sydney University
• University of Nottingham Malaysia
• Perth US Asia Centre, University of Western Australia
• ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit: Emerging Leaders dialogue
• ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit: CEO Forum
• APAIE Conference. Panel Discussion on SDGs

On 26 February, the AUN delegation team met with Mr. Toshi Kawaguchi, Director of International Education and Study NSW, Investment NSW, for a catch-up meeting to update on the 2024 priority area from the last visit in December 2022. This follows the engagement of AUN with Australian universities from NSW in the area of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). Over the past 2 years, AUN has been working on enhancing the institutional capability of EMI in the Higher Education Institutions in ASEAN with key partners such as NEAS Australia (National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme), Macquarie University, and Western Sydney University. 

During the discussions, the AUN delegation team and Mr. Toshi also explored potential collaboration opportunities aligned with the Australia for ASEAN (Aus4ASEAN) Initiatives, which serve as the flagship endeavor to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between ASEAN and Australia. These discussions covered areas including health security, maritime security, information technology (IT), climate and clean energy, and mutual recognition agreements for professionals such as those in the fields of health and engineering.

Furthermore, AUN delegates had a meeting with AFG, Mr. Michael Fay OAM, Director of ASEAN Focus Group and Special advisor to AUN Executive Director, and Mr. Eugene Quah, AFG Partner to update on the activities under the AFG project, "Partnering with Purpose on Australia’s ASEAN Education Future" as AUN Secretariat has supported AFG under the Project. The project aims at participating in relevant forums and dialogues and establishing a framework for increased collaboration between AUN and Australian institutions.

In the upcoming issues of our newsletter, the AUN Secretariat would like to share the insight gathered from the discussions with key stakeholders and universities. Stay tuned to find out more about our engagement with Australia!

Read more about AUN’s previous engagement with Australian partners at: 
- AUS-AUN Engagement: Overview of the Network’s Past and Prospective Strategic Partnerships with Australia
- Open Up New Opportunities for AUN Universities with Australia in 2023