EU, ASEAN strengthen ties on Higher Education and Academic Networking

The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) brings together policymakers, university leaders, youth representatives, and education experts from both regions in Belgium to align strategic priorities and discuss policy responses to shared challenges — ranging from digital transformation and skills mobility to inclusive education and climate resilience.

The outcomes of the event about higher education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and youth participation on 26–27 May in Brussels aim to deepen EU–ASEAN cooperation in education and skills. They include:

• enhanced understanding of skill recognition frameworks;

• strategies for greater youth engagement in policymaking;

• strengthened partnerships between EU and ASEAN education stakeholders;

• a policy brief summarising discussions and recommendations.

Mr Martin Seychell, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), highlighted the EU's commitment to higher education and skills as part of the Global Gateway strategy. YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, and H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, joined him in reaffirmed the importance of people-centred connectivity in driving sustainable development and regional integration.

On 28 May, the focus will shift to KU Leuven, a leading European university, that co-hosts a networking event for EU and ASEAN Universities under the banner ‘Advancing Partnerships in Higher Education: Strengthening EU–ASEAN Academic Collaboration’. The event will showcase successful institutional models of cooperation in an interactive panel session. University representatives will explore practical solutions to overcome common barriers in academic collaboration and to scale up people-to-people exchange. The day will conclude with a university visit and campus tour, offering participants insights into KU Leuven’s internationalisation strategy.

Since its launch in mid-2024, the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE) has engaged over 500 higher education institutions from across the EU and ASEAN through the call for Academic Connectivity Grants, facilitated regional studies on qualifications frameworks and quality assurance, and empowered young people through initiatives such as the Empower Youth4Food campaign. 

The Policy Dialogue and KU Leuven networking event collectively underscore the enduring value of academic cooperation as a driver for prosperity, innovation, and shared growth between the EU and ASEAN.