2023 Forum for ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation & the 3rd Annual Meeting of ACAPHEI are successfully held at University of Sanya on 5th to 6th December 2023. Responsive to the “Belt and Road Initiative”, the Forum and the ACAPHEI (ASEAN-China Alliance of Private Higher Education Institutions) have been supported by the ASEAN-China Center (ACC) and the Regional Center for Higher Education and Development, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO RIHED) since 2017 and act as the regional higher education network. The theme of this year’s Forum is “New Trend, New Partnership, New Pattern ? Deeper Integration of Higher Education Community Leading to Synergetic Innovation”. The attendees from more than 20 universities and enterprises meet again to share ideas and experiences on crisis, challenges and solutions brought by higher education innovation against the backdrop of industry transformation at University of Sanya after four years since 2019.
Cui Ying, Deputy Director of the Education Department of Hainan Province, He Shi-gang, Deputy Mayor of Sanya Municipal People’s Government, Li Ya-ying, Deputy Director of Department of Education, Culture and Tourism of ACC, Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, Center Director of SEAMEO RIHED, Phornvit Phacharintanakul, representative of CP Group, advisor for Education, Healthcare & Wellness Business of CP All, Senior Vice President of Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Thailand, Vivakanandan Sinniah, President of Association of Private Higher Education Institutions of Singapore, Executive Chairman, PSB Academy Singapore, Dr. Wirat Lertpaitoonpan, Vice President of Sripatum University, Thailand, Dr. Ho Chin Kuan, Vice President of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, Malaysia, Dr. Choong Chee Keong, Vice President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, Dr. Tep Kolap, President of Phnom Penh International University, Cambodia, Dr. Ahmad Rusdan Handoyo Utomo, Vice President of YARSI University, Prof. Tang Jian-rong, President of Guiyang Institute of Information Science and Technology, Prof. Nong Ke-zhong, President of Xiangsihu College of Guangxi Minzu University, Prof. Que Hai-bao, President of Geely University of China, Prof. Ge Jin-ling, Vice President of Zhejiang Yuexiu University and others attend the 2023 Forum and 3rd Annual Meeting.
Cui Ying, He Shi-gang, Li Ya-ying and Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont deliver the opening speeches for congratulation on the 2023 Forum and the 3rd Annual Meeting and in praise of the positive role of the Forum for ASEAN-China Private Higher Education Development and Cooperation and the ACAPHEI in international communication and cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN universities. Dr. Lu Dan delivers welcome speech, and he calls to build synergistically an international cooperative digital educational platform. Dr. Wang Dan, Phornvit Phacharintanakul, Vivakanandan Sinniah, Prof. Yang Bao-yun, and Dr. Choong Chee Keong deliver keynote speeches.
Cui Ying delivers opening speech
He Shi-gang delivers opening speech
Li Ya-ying delivers opening speech
Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont delivers opening speech
Dr. Lu Dan delivers welcome speech
On the Forum, presidents, vice presidents, experts, and professors from the universities in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have a heated discussion and share their respective ideas and practices in talent cultivation and synergy with industries and governments.
Dr. Wang Dan airs her opinion
Vice President of YARSI University of Indonesia and Vice President Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation of Malaysia have a discussion
Vice President of Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Thailand speaks on the discussion session
On the 3rd Annual Meeting held in the afternoon on the 6th December, Zoe Che Yi reports the milestone outcomes of the Pilot Projects of ACAHPEI. The representative teachers and students from the ASEAN-China universities who participate in the pilot projects of Student Multi-campus Mobility and Joint Research make presentations to share their experiences and outcomes in the pilot projects. Yang Fan, Director of Xinwei Education of Geely Talents Development Group, introduces Xinwei educational digital platform which plays the fundamental role in facilitating international e-learning. The attendees witness the signing of the MOU on Joint Program (Education Group), the MOU on Student Multi-campus Mobility Program, and the MOU on Joint Research Program. The projects’ trial practice in 2023 and the signing of the MOUs on the meeting not only highlight the 2023 meeting but mark the transforming from forging the ideas and building the consensus among members of ACAPHEI to obtaining the collaborative practice and development. In the end, it is declared that 2024 Forum and the 4th Annual Meeting will be held by Sripatum University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Presentation of representative students of Pilot Project
the MOU on Joint Research Program Signing
The year 2023 is the 20th anniversary of China’s signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The coming year of 2024 is the year of ASEAN-China Cultural and Educational Exchange. University of Sanya contributes to expansion of cooperation and communication with ASEAN private universities, the construction of ACAPHEI as well as the implementation of pilot projects of online course construction, multi-campus e-learning and joint research. University of Sany will continue to explore the new pattern of international cooperation of higher education and build an important bridge to connect the collaboration between ASEAN and Chinese higher education.
（Adapted and translated by Zhang Yuhong）