Since 2017 the AUN and its Secretariat have been operating firmly on the principles of clear project-activity design and effective delivery, in order to maximise the resources our members, partners and the Secretariat pool together in every cross-border activity organised under the AUN brand. With our intelligent implementation approach and outcome-oriented mindset, the AUN is currently the busiest university association in the ASEAN region, counted by the number of public activities produced or co-produced per week for a wide variety of beneficiaries. However, the AUN, as a single entity, can be many things to different people.
Officially the AUN is one of the sectoral bodies within the structure of ASEAN, functioning as part of the ASEAN processes of regionalisation. In this sense the AUN has been delivering results for ASEAN for over 25 years in the area of higher education cooperation. Nowadays many of the AUN’s high-impact programmes and projects are organised by the Thematic Networks of the AUN hosted by some of the core AUN Member Universities. Together with the AUN Secretariat, the core Members also formulate and pilot new actions for the advancement of higher education in ASEAN. Thus, the AUN is seen as the hub of various sub-networks and a regional pioneer of education development.
Today, the AUN has been working as the gateway to ASEAN’s higher education sector, where current and new initiatives are always being translating into many types of collaborative cross-border activities and projects.
Today, the AUN has been working as the gateway to ASEAN’s higher education sector, where current and new initiatives are always being translating into many types of collaborative cross-border activities and projects.
The ASEAN University Network came into being in 1995 when the AUN Charter was signed by the Ministers responsible for Higher Education from ASEAN countries, the Agreement on the Establishment of the AUN was signed by the presidents, rectors and vice chancellors of participating universities, and the AUN Board of Trustees was formed.
The AUN was formed to address the region’s need to quickly develop a regional identity and solidarity, while fostering ASEAN talents by creating a platform to allow the region’s leading higher education institutions to collaborate. From 1995 the AUN has remained firmly committed to the mission that was set out in the preamble to its charter.
The AUN is widely recognised as a vital mechanism in the creation of an active and renowned ASEAN higher education community. Because of its importance, the AUN was highly commended by the Meeting of Ministers for Education in ASEAN Countries for its achievements in upgrading the capacity of ASEAN human resources and enhancing the quality of education of the AUN member universities. With the strengths and expertise of our members, the AUN can play a major role in broadening the integration of the ten ASEAN countries into one cohesive ASEAN community and narrowing the development gaps between them; these are the ultimate goals of ASEAN.
DR CHOLTIS DHIRATHITI
Dr Choltis Dhirathiti is Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN).
NOVEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 12
Partnerships in Higher Education
