Yogyakarta, 9 September 2024 – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, with support from the ASEAN Secretariat, successfully organized the ASEAN-Plus Three International Seminar on East Asian Studies at ASEAN-Plus Three Countries Universities and the ASEAN-Plus Three Student Camp from September 9–11, 2024, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The event brought together educators, students, and policymakers from ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries to deepen their understanding of East Asian issues, foster academic collaboration, and enhance people-to-people connectivity. Participants engaged in discussions focused on establishing East Asian Studies programs at universities across the APT region, promoting cultural exchanges, and encouraging cross-border cooperation.
The opening ceremony, held on 9th September 2024 at the Balai Senat Universitas Gadjah Mada, featured remarks from Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., Vice Rector for Education and Learning at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Mrs. Yuliana Bahar, Director for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation, officially inaugurated the event, while the keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Suning Kusumawardani, S.T., M.T., Director of Learning and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
In her keynote speech, titled “The Role of Higher Education in East Asian Studies and ASEAN+3 Collaboration,” Prof. Kusumawardani highlighted the importance of building a shared regional identity and emphasized the role of higher education institutions as cultural hubs in the region. She also discussed the significance of embracing the Revised ASEAN+3 Guidelines and outlined key strategies for fostering regional identity through academic initiatives.
After the opening session, the program continued with an international seminar and a student camp (public lecture). The seminar session gathered around 30 experts from various universities around ASEAN+3 countries to discuss East Asian studies. Having diverse expertises, many of them are professors with a focus on Southeast Asian and East Asian studies. The goal is to formulate a “Jogja Roadmap and establish East Asian Studies at ASEAN+3 Universities”.
Session highlights include:
- The first session featured presentations by Prof. D Ravichandran K Dhakshinamoorthy, Ph.D. from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Dr. Xue Song from Fudan University-China, moderated by Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A. from Universitas Gadjah Mada. The session discussed “The Role and Significance of East Asia”. Prof. Ravi shared the materials about aspects that make the East Asia region significant, including its new theater & challenges, while Dr. Song talked about global significance of East Asia, cooperation and shared experience between East and Southeast Asia, and the challenges especially on the lack of strategic planning.
- The second session focused on the topic “Exploring the Establishment and the Roadmap to Establish East Asian Studies”. Three experts, namely Prof. Baek-Yung Kim (Seoul National University-Republic of Korea), Dr. Neo Peng Fu (Nanyang Technological University-Singapore), and Manoj Potapohn, Ph.D. (ChangMai University-Thailand) served as speakers in this session, moderated by Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto, from CESASS UGM. Each speaker covered different areas of the topic, ranging from the crisis of local extinction in post-developmental Northeast Asia, recent development of East Asian Studies, and studies on how to find a way to move forward from the economist perspective.
- The first day concluded with the final session on “Jogja Roadmap on Establishing East Asian Studies at ASEAN+3 Universities”. During the last session, participants actively engaged in discussions with the three experts who spoke, including Shofwan Al-Banna Choiruzzad Ph.D. (University of Indonesia), Dr. Thongkham HUNGSAVATH (Souphanouvong University-Lao DPR), and Dr. Muhammad Anshari Ali (Universiti Brunei Darussalam). In this session, both participants and speakers were actively engaged in the discussion about knowledge production of East Asian studies in the Southeast Asia region.
The seminar and student camp facilitated dynamic discussions, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchanges, solidifying the commitment to advancing academic cooperation and cultural understanding among APT countries. This successful event marks a significant step forward in strengthening regional partnerships and establishing East Asian Studies as a key area of collaboration.
About CESASS UGM:
The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is a leading research center dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of Southeast Asia. CESASS UGM conducts research, provides academic programs, and promotes knowledge exchange to deepen understanding of Southeast Asia’s diverse cultures, societies, and development challenges.
About UGM:
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is a prestigious university located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is renowned for its academic excellence, research contributions, and commitment to community engagement. UGM strives to nurture global-minded scholars and leaders who will contribute to the advancement of society.
Writer: Nurina Aulia Haris and Luthfiana Nur Rofifah
Pusat Studi Sosial Asia Tenggara UGM
pssat@ugm.ac.id
(0274) 589658