-The First Virtual CDM in the history of SEAMEO-

In response to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, and social distancing measures, the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2020 (Virtual) was successfully held online for the first time from 15 to 16 July 2020. The online meeting served not only as a platform for SEAMEO Units to share updates on SEAMEO new policy directions and their achievements, but also to discuss how SEAMEO can expand its developmental programmes with new partners and strengthen the existing ones. The meeting was organised by SEAMEO Secretariat and warmly participated by the Directors and senior officers of SEAMEO units.

SEAMEO Secretariat Directorates and Staffs, SEAMEO Centres Directors, and Partners during the opening ceremony

Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, SEAMEO Secretariat’s Director, welcomed all the participants and chaired the meeting. The working papers were all in ad-referendum, which were reviewed and approved unanimously before the meeting as priory agreed among the Centre Directors. This new format allowed the virtual meeting to be concise and efficient.

The SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2020 (Virtual) consisted of six main sections, namely Opening Formalities, Matters for Information, Inter-Centre Collaboration (ICC) Programme on SEAMEO Seven Priority Areas, Networking Session with partners, Review and Adoption of the Plenary Session, and Special session: workshop on SEAMEO Strategic Plan 2021-2030. A total of 23 Working Papers, 11 from SEAMEO Secretariat and 12 from SEAMEO Centres/Network, were presented during Matter for Information section. 

SEAMEO Secretariat Directorates & SEAMEO Centres Delegates

Five new Inter-Centre Collaboration Proposals by five SEAMEO Centres were presented during Inter-Centre Collaboration (ICC) Programme on SEAMEO Seven Priority Areas. After each presentation, the Directors and officers from different SEAMEO units addressed to the meeting with valuable comments, feedback, and interests to collaborate.

During the Virtual Networking Session, a total of 25 Multimedia Presentations, 1 from Associate Member Country, 4 from Affiliate Members and 20 from Partners, were presented. The 26 SEAMEO Centres/Networks were encouraged to actively discuss and share their ideas and projects with the invited partner institutions via the chat box. All the parties were enthusiastic and positive about future collaborations. The details of the discussion and prospective collaborations among SEAMEO Units, Partners and Affiliates Members were sought after the virtual meeting.  

SEAMEO CDM 2020 Networking Session - Virtual (15 July 2020)

On the second day, the Workshop on SEAMEO Strategic Plan 2021-2030 was conducted to gather significant inputs and recommendations on SEAMEO Strategic Plan 2021-2030 from Centres/Network, Affiliate Member and Partners. The workshop was conducted with a 3-breakout group facilitating the participants to discuss and report back to the meeting as a group. The workshop ended up with fruitful recommendations on SEAMEO Strategic Plan 2021-2030.

Finally, the meeting has reviewed and adopted the proceedings of CDM 2020 (Virtual), as well as acknowledging the other matters: Survey on Per diem allowance for Governing Board Meeting, the formation of SEAMEO Charter Amendment Technical Working Group, and SEAMEO Calendar 2020-2021 Highlights. The announcement of SEAMEO Congress 2021 came in a form of a VDO clip.

The meeting concluded successfully by summarising the points of the discussions, advice, and comments. All the directors, officers, and representatives were glad to participate in the CDM 2020 (Virtual). The majority of the Centres rated the CDM 2020 as very satisfying.

Despite the change to the online platform, the meeting was facilitated under a professional but relaxing atmosphere. The delegates also provided serious and insightful speeches and comments to the meetings. The unprecedented virtual SEAMEO CDM 2020, which ensures the programme’s implementation and cooperation and also enhances the network and connections among all the participants, was successfully and officially closed on 16 July 2020.