Bangkok, Thailand, 2 December 2022 – The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat signed Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Agreement with university members to establish the SEAMEO Research University Network (SEA-RUN) to serve as a “Network of Research and Sharing for Development” platform.

The network initially comprises 9 universities from different Southeast Asian countries with the common goal of utilising the existing capabilities of the region to realign strategic direction of regional education stakeholders and to better serve the Southeast Asian community for a better quality of life through strategic collaboration in undertaking research activities and providing research expertise. The founding network members include 1) Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Brunei Darussalam, 2) Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 3) Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, 4) Souphanouvong University, Lao PDR, 5) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, 6) University of Information Technology, Myanmar, 7) Philippine Normal University, Philippines, 8) Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Thailand, 9) Duy Tan University, Vietnam.

In connection with this, the SEAMEO Research University Network (SEA-RUN) Inaugural Meeting was convened to initiate the establishment of the network and to bring network members/ research experts together to share experiences and exchange best practices as well as to explore the possibility of joint activities/ projects of the network in areas of mutual interest for the years 2022 – 2023.

The highlight of the meeting was the presentation from network members on their various research priorities, especially how these had been revised or updated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, participants were provided with insightful knowledge on the importance of research, partnership and network in response to the post COVID-19 pandemic educational challenges as well as valuable recommendations on research agenda and direction for educational transformation by honourable representatives from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) of Thailand, SEAMEO Affiliate Members - British Council, Thailand and The Education University of Hong Kong, esteemed experts from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the United States of America and Google for Education, Australia, and SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), Thailand.

The SEA-RUN extended the continuous effort of the SEAMEO Secretariat in amplifying its strengths through collaborative and strategic partnerships to put plans into actions and to ensure the steady progress of SEAMEO Member countries and its partners at the global level, particularly in the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2030, whose progress requires coordinated efforts for escalation by 2030.

More information:
https://www.seameo.org/Main_events/381