H E Mr Jurin Laksanawisit, SEAMEO Council President and Minister of Education of Thailand; and Mr Jean-Vianney Auclair, Assistant Deputy Minister, Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, Canada, presented the Plaque of Recognition to the 2008 SEAMEO Jasper Research Award Winner, Mr Nantha Kumar Subramaniam, Vice-Dean and Senior Lecturer of Faculty of Information Technology and Multimedia Communication, Open University Malaysia.

The 2008 SEAMEO-Jasper Research Theme was "Innovation in Education through ICT". The winning research is titled "Toward Asynchronous Collaborative Learning Pedagogy for Adult Learners in Small Learning Communities: Implementation and what Characteristics that Influence Adult Learners Critical Thinking Ratio". The study demonstrated how ICT use in education will help achieve quality education for all and set an ideal environment for lifelong learning.


2008 SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award

Theme: "Innovation in Education through ICT"

Strands:

  • Promoting citizen participation
  • Promoting human rights
  • Promoting education for peace
  • Education for sustainable development
  • Diversity and multiculturalism
  • Environmental protection and sustainability

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 aims 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 2008 Research Award underlines the importance of innovation in education through ICT in attaining goals of sustainable development and moulding future responsible citizens. Southeast Asian countries are in the midst of economic and social transformation and the innovative uses of ICT in education will help achieve the goals of quality education for all and for making the ideal of lifelong learning a reality

Education must not only work towards acquiring the knowledge and competencies to function in a global environment. The goal of a future Southeast Asian community of cohesive, equitable and harmonious societies, bound together in solidarity for deeper understanding and cooperation is anchored in attitudes and values that promote individual responsibility and social harmony. Supporting this goal presents new challenges for education scholars and practitioners, requiring fresh concepts and models for effective teaching and learning.

The 2008 Award recognizes research that explores concepts, ideas and practical experience for effective teaching and learning through ICT in the above-mentioned areas. This includes research on ICT 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 2008 Research Award

For the 2008 Award Cycle, a travel fellowship is granted to the winner to disseminate results of the winning research in Canada and Southeast Asia. The fellowship will include 8-day travel expenses to Canada and 6-day travel expenses to two selected SEAMEO Member Countries. The fellowship would also include assistance in travel arrangements as well as health and travel insurance.

The award winner will be notified by the SEAMEO Secretariat and will receive a Plaque of Recognition during the 44th SEAMEO Council Conference, 5-9 April 2009 in Thailand.

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

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 Applications

  • Completed application form (Download the form here)
  • 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)
  • Seven (7) copies of the research abstract (one-page)
  • One (1) copy of the complete research paper
  • Hard copy and electronic submissions must reach the SEAMEO Secretariat on or before 15 January 2009
  • The submissions should be clearly marked and addressed to:
2008 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

Note: The deadline for submitting applications for
the 2008 SEAMEO Jasper Research Award is 15 January 2009