The 3rd ACC-SEAMEO RIHED Study Visit in Guangxi Successfully Concluded

From 10 to 17 January 2016, the 3rd Study Visit Programme on Foster Academic Collaboration and Exchange in Higher Education: Cultivate Innovative Talents in the fields of Arts, Traditional Medicine, Cultural Heritage, and Hospitality and Tourism was carried out and successfully concluded in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, co-organized by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED).

7 participants representing 4 Thai universities and 1 Indonesian university, accompanied by ACC and SEAMEO RIHED officials, delivered presentations and exchanged views during a 1-day seminar and visited 8 Chinese universities in Nanning and Guilin, Guangxi. Both ASEAN and Chinese universities showed great enthusiasm to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the respective universities of both sides and explored the possibilities for cooperation. The interactions and indepth discussions have generated great interests to promote even more future practical collaborations and cooperation between Guangxi and ASEAN universities. The universities from both sides were also invited to attend the international conference on Arts hosted by Chulalongkorn University to be held in March 2016, and to prepare for the upcoming return study and how to capitalize on the past activities.

Mr. Tri Purnajaya, Director for Education Culture and Tourism Division (ECTD) of ACC hosted a welcome dinner on behalf of ACC, jointly moderated the Seminar with Mme. Chantavit Sujatanond, Centre Director of SEAMEO RIHED and delivered a speech. He introduced the background of the ACC-SEAMEO RIHED Study Visit, highlighted the role and achievements of ACC in promoting ASEAN-China cooperation in education, and encouraged both ASEAN and Guangxi universities to implement and strengthen collaborations in faculty and student exchanges, joint research, co-organizing student activities and joint cultivation of talents, in particular in 2016 which had been designated as the ASEAN-China Year of Educational Exchange. Ms. Zhang Jing, Education Officer of ACC accompanied the delegation during the whole Visit.