Report on the 2nd Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and the 9th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMME9), 24-26 January 2024

Asia-Europe Institute’s representative, Prof. Azirah Hashim, attended the 2nd Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2) and the 9th ASEM Education Minister’s Meeting (ASEMME9) with the theme ‘leaving no one behind’ in Malta on 24-26 January 2024. Both meetings were hosted in Malta’s historical city of Floriana. ASEMME9 was officiated by Dr Clifton Grima, the Maltese Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation and was attended by ASEM ministers, their delegations and representatives as well as ASEM stakeholders. Dr. Rose Anne Cuschieri, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority and Mr. Luca Lantero, Head of the ASEM Education Secretariat, welcomed everyone and gave the opening remarks.

A keynote on ‘Inclusive Horizons: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Education's Collective Future’ was delivered by Prof. Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini, Senior Researcher of the Laboratory on Innovation and Artificial Intelligence (IALAB) of the University of Buenos Aires. Another keynote on ‘Embracing Technology and Innovative Learning Methods in Healthcare Education: A Pathway to Inclusive Growth and Development’ was delivered by Prof. Andreas Charalambous, University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Ministers delivered short speeches on their country’s vision and strategies for Sustainable Development Goals and Education, Recognition and Balanced Mobility, Lifelong Learning and TVET, and Digitalisation. The Chair’s Conclusions and Stocktaking Report were also discussed.

Prior to the ASEMME9 was the SOM2 attended by ASEM senior officials and stakeholders. During the meeting, the latest updates from the four ASEM Expert Groups on Sustainable Development Goals and Education, Recognition and Balanced Mobility, Lifelong Learning and TVET, and Digitalisation were delivered. Updates from ASEM partners and stakeholders on ongoing and future activities and initiatives were given. Prof. Azirah presented on AEI’s activities, in particular, the forthcoming AEI-ASEM Summer School on 29 July 2024 - 07 August 2024 with the theme ‘Global citizenship: embracing diversity, fostering sustainability’. She also participated in the Stakeholders’ panel on ‘Leaving no one behind’ and highlighted the various events and activities at the AEI and the Centre for ASEAN Regionalism (CARUM) within the institute.