With students and researchers in South-East Asia as the target audience, the ASEAN-EU Higher Education Fair (AEHEF) 2023 was a gateway to academic opportunities in the two regions.

Jointly organised by the ASEAN Secretariat and the EU Delegation to ASEAN (EUD), the virtual event highlighted the importance of academic partnership between the EU and ASEAN through enhanced cross-regional cooperation on student mobility and research.

Nearly 3 900 participants registered for the one-day event to explore academic opportunities offered by 66 institutions in Europe and 15 in South-East Asia. The opening ceremony attracted over 1 900 views, while 902 participants interacted with representatives from EU Member States, education agencies and EU funding programmes, including Erasmus+ and EURAXESS, in 12 sessions.

EU Ambassador to ASEAN H.E. Mr Sujiro Seam lauded the exchange, saying 5 500 students and researchers from ASEAN countries have taken advantage of EU scholarship opportunities since 2014. ‘In the other direction,’ he added, ‘3 000 students and researchers from the EU have conducted their studies or research projects in ASEAN countries.’

Education is one of the main components of the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership and a priority in the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. AEHEF 2023 complements the European Year of Skills, which aims to promote lifelong learning and to empower people and companies to contribute to green and digital transitions.

The event was covered by Thailand The Nation, Malaysia Mercator Education, Wittenborg University, Indonesia KataNTT, Koran Jakarta, Indonesia Gatra, Indonesia Top Business, Indonesia Sindo, Indonesia Warta Ekonomi and Indonesia Tribun.

Rewatch the recordings of AEHEF in parts here and here, and stay up to date on EUD’s upcoming events on social media via Facebook and X.