Dr Allan B de Guzman, a researcher of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, receives the plaque of recognition from Ambassador David Summers of the High Commission of Canada to Malaysia, and YM Tengku Datin Seri Marsilla Tengku Abdullah, wife of Malaysian Education Minister Dato Sri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, during the 43rd SEAMEO Council Conference on 13 March 2008 in Kuala Lumpur. Dr de Guzman's winning research entry is entitled, "Creating Space for Legitimate Participation of Youth in Education for Sustainability through Service Learning: Toward a 'Liberatory Praxis' for Pedagogy of Sustainability".


2007 SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award

Theme: Education for Sustainable Development: Improving Teaching and Learning for Southeast Asia's Common Future

Strands:

  • Managing social change, good governance, civic consciousness and environmentally responsible business
  • Sustainable agriculture, fishery and rural development
  • Community mobilization and advocacy for health and sanitation, environmentally responsible lifestyles
  • Innovative teaching and learning approaches for sustainable development issues (eg global warming, ozone depletion, protection of biodiversity, etc)
  • Sustainable development in traditional Southeast Asian values, culture and promoting a regional identity

The SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award was established in 1990 with the support of the Government of Canada as a way of recognizing exemplary research conducted by Southeast Asian Nationals in the region. The yearly award seeks to encourage young scholars to conduct research on a relevant theme on social development in Southeast Asia and to stimulate continued interaction and knowledge-sharing among Southeast Asian and Canadian researchers.

The theme for the 2007 Awards underlines the importance of education in moulding future responsible citizens. Southeast Asian countries are in the midst of economic and social transformation. Education must not only work towards acquiring the knowledge and competencies to function in a global environment. Education is a key factor towards fulfilling the 2020 Vision of a "Clean and Green ASEAN, with fully established mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the protection of the region's environment, the sustainability of its natural resources, and the high quality of life of its peoples." Supporting this goal presents new challenges for education scholars and practitioners, requiring fresh concepts and models for effective teaching and learning.

The 2007 Award recognizes research that explores concepts, ideas and practical experience for effective teaching and learning in the above-mentioned areas. This includes research on innovative models, teaching-learning approaches, materials, assessment methods as well as documented practices and cases of effective interventions in the formal and non-formal education streams.

The 2007 Research Award

For the 2007 award cycle, a travel fellowship for the dissemination of the winning research in Canada. The fellowship will include travel expenses to Canada (12 days, inclusive of travel time). The travel fellowship would include assistance in travel arrangements as well as health and travel insurance.

The awardee will be notified by the SEAMEO Secretariat and will receive a Plaque of Recognition during the 43rd Council Conference in Malaysia.

Eligible Applicants

  • A national of a SEAMEO-Member Country
  • Completed/earned a Master's or Doctorate degree
  • Not be more than 55 years old at the time of application
  • Physically fit to travel to Canada and Southeast Asia; certification by a competent physician may be requested before traveling
  • For studies/projects conducted by a team of researchers with multiple authors, only one person (the senior author) will be eligible for nomination. The submission should include a written note from the co-author(s) waiving any claim to the award, in case the research is selected; and a statement indicating the nominee's level of responsibility (in percentage) for the research work

The Research Entry

  • Must be a completed research study/project conducted in Southeast Asia (or covering one or more country in the region) relating to Education for Sustainable Development and cover one or more of the thematic strands
  • The research must have been completed within in the past three years
  • If the research paper has already been published, the revised paper should incorporate some new aspects/dimensions or updated information, findings or analysis
  • Research conducted for graduate/post graduate theses or doctoral dissertations will not be accepted
  • All submissions (including photo captions and other materials) should be in English

Selection Process

A Selection Committee composed of representatives of relevant international organizations, experts in the field covered by the theme, previous SEAMEO-Jasper awardees and officials of SEAMEO will be convened to review the submissions. Selection will be based on the quality of the research report, the relevance to improving education in Southeast Asia and its potentials for promoting better understanding between Canada and Southeast Asia.

Submission of Nominations

  1. Completed nomination form
  2. Seven (7) copies of the summary of the research paper (not more than 20-pages, inclusive of the rationale, objectives, methodology, findings, conclusions, recommendations and references/bibliography)
  3. Seven (7) copies of the research abstract (one-page)
  4. One (1) copy of the complete research paper
  5. The submissions should be clearly marked and addressed to:

    2007 SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award

    The Director
    SEAMEO Secretariat
    Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building
    920 Sukhumvit Road
    Bangkok 10110, Thailand
    Tel: +66 (0) 2391-0144
    Fax: +66 (0) 2381-2587
    E-mail: secretariat@seameo.org