CHON BURI, THAILAND | SINGAPORE CITY, SINGAPORE — In July 2026, SEAMEO started a new fiscal year by conducting two of its most important annual meetings: the Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) on 14-15 July and the Executive Committee (EC) Meeting on 24 July.

Towards Strengthening a Unified Network

The CDM serves as a platform for the Secretariat, Centres, and the wider Network to share and discuss regional development programmes and work plans. Held this year at the Amari Bangsaen in Chon Buri, Thailand, this year’s CDM celebrated the enabling power of partnership as Directors aligned their planned initiatives for the year. It also allowed for each other to explore the ways to contribute as one SEAMEO, recognising the complementarity of the Centres in the context of mandates and programmes. This two-day meeting became an opportunity to unite as one functioning organisation.

Alongside formal proceedings, the Secretariat led special sessions that focused on strengthening SEAMEO’s identity through publications and multimedia, the Intre-Centre Collaboration Programme, and ways to drive the implementation of SEA-PLM.

The CDM likewise put a spotlight on key stakeholders within the region and from around the world who have been instrumental to the success of SEAMEO’s programme implementation over the years. Together with Associate and Affiliate Members, these partners contributed to discussions and planning through dedicated networking sessions and dialogues within the sidelines of the entire meeting.

Charting a Strategic Direction

Convened by High Officials from Brunei Darussalam (Chair), together with Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, EC was an avenue to gather strategic advice on budgeting, financial management, and overall organisational matters. The EC reviewed progress across SEAMEO’s major programmes and projects for the fiscal year, along with updates on the Organisation’s monitoring and evaluation system, the Inter-Centre Collaboration Programme, and the SEA-Teacher mobility scheme.

Members also discussed the planned establishment of SEAMEO as the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for the International Institute of Online Education, reflecting the Organisation’s growing focus on AI and digital transformation in education. Guidance provided during the meeting will feed into preparations for the 49^th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting, where these initiatives are set to be presented for further consideration.

Traversing Technical Work to Policy Decisions

Discussion outcomes from the Centre Directors Meeting and the Executive Committee Meeting will form part of the structured cycle of meetings that supports SEAMEO's larger governance and connect technical work at the Centre level to policy decisions at the ministerial level.

By starting the year with these back-to-back meetings, SEAMEO ensures that technical expertise, operational insights, and policy decisions are aligned across all levels of the organisation.

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