ASIAN-AFRICAN FORUM 2015 : “Asian-African Collaboration on Education, Economy, Technology and Culture towards the Excellence and Leadership of New Emerging Countries”

A. Background

On April 18-24, 1955, a conference that involved five sponsoring countries (Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and 24 participating countries from Asia and Africa convened in Bandung. The Bandung Conference (Asian-African Conference) turned out to be a historic watershed in the international relations of those 29 countries. In that period, amid pressure from the growing Cold War bipolarism, the countries were able to concertedly affirm that they would choose neither the East nor the West but pursue their own path and strategy under the guidance of “Bandung Principles”. By the later stage, the Bandung Conference had inspired not only the independence of new countries in Asia and Africa and the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement but also the fight against racialism. The Bandung Principles was one of the most important outcomes of the conference. Since their inception, the principles have been navigating countries in the Asian-African continents as well as those in other continents through the turbulence of the Cold War period. However, unlike inter-regional cooperation between Asia and Europe through ASEM or East Asia and Latin America through FEALAC, Asia-Africa inter-regionalism for many decades had been less structured until 2005 when Indonesia hosted the Asian-African Summit where more than 80 heads of state and government attended. The Summit agreed on a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) that aimed to promote a deeper and more structured and systematic cooperation between Asia and Africa. At the 2005 Summit, the Bandung Principles were enriched. New norms and values were embraced. Those new principles include among others democracy, promotion and protection of human rights and multilateralism.

The Bandung Conference has given Indonesia particular meanings. It revived the “bebas aktif” foreign policy, and now it has become a national heritage in the gallery of Indonesian as well as Bandung history. For younger generations of the country, however, the conference and its meaning have unfortunately turned out to be less appealing than other more recent inter-state initiatives such as APEC, ASEM and G20. The Bandung Conference is also an icon in the history of Indonesian diplomacy. It is a symbol of independence. The Bandung Conference Independence in policy, in action and in making choices. In the present context of international relations, cooperation between Asian and African countries remains critical, and even becomes more important than ever before. Both Asia and Africa continue to experience changes. Geo-economically speaking, Asia has become more and more strategic. With the rise of the South, and emerging economy like Indonesia, Asia is in a position to contribute to global growth. Democracy in Asia is also taking roots — becoming more substantive after a long process, whereas democratization in countries in North Africa and the Middle East has just begun by the phenomenon of “Arab Springs”. In the current globalization context wherein the world has become multi-polar and shrinkage and the humanitarian and ethical issues became world concerns. Poverty remains a pressing issue in both continents. The situation in Africa is more difficult because the poorest people of the world’s total seven billion population lives there. Moreover, it has become worse and worse whenever armed conflicts — often fueled by the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons — break out in countries on the continent. In view of the situations, it is very critical to reflect on the best ways to tap the practical and normative meanings of the Bandung Principles. One of the Bandung Principles clearly underlines the abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country. But in reality, there are conditions that humanitarian intervention will eventually be invoked if all other efforts have failed. The sixty years commemoration of Asian-African Conference is an important step and momentum to develop a collective understanding on the need to enhance spirit of Bandung Conference towards the excellence of Asian-African countries while emerging the humanitarian and ethical norms and fighting against poverty of the region. Quoting president Sukarno’s opening speech at the Bandung Conference entitled “Let a New Asia and a New Africa be born,” the answer is that Asia and Africa can do much.

Above all, in view of the issues, we perceive that the synergy of academicians, government, and experts within the region is needed, especially to set, drive and facilitate the needs of soft diplomacy through education towards the region’s excellence. The role of universities is also a key aspect to initiate the spirit to grow up together and to realize sustainability and peace in Asian-African region.

B. Details of the Event

Date : April 30, 2015
Venue : Balai Senat, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta-Indonesia
Theme : Asia-Africa Spirit towards the Excellence and Leadership of New Emerging Countries

C. Purpose of the Program

1. To map and address strategic issues towards the development of Asian-African region in relation with the role of the universities in the region;

2. To set regional agenda towards sustainability and peace in the Asian-African region by the leadership of Asian-African countries;

3. To explore the possibilities for capacity development and collaboration within Asian-African universities in order to contribute to national development within the Asian-African countries;

4. To drive the collective understanding within Asian-African region through education and cultural exchanges for the development and growth of Asian-African countries.

D. Output and Outcome of the Programs
1. Output

1.1 Common declaration on collaboration for sustainable, peaceful and developed region within the context of education, culture, technology, and economy in Asian-African region.

1.2 Other format of contribution towards stronger understanding and closer relationship among Asian-African countries which will be formulated based on soft diplomacy through education and cultural events.

2. Outcomes

2.1 Stronger understanding and closer relationship among Asian-African countries and the common agreement on the role of higher education leadership towards sustainable, peaceful and developed region;

2.2 Structured, integrated and strategic agenda to contribute to the development and advancement of Asian-African region.

E. Contact Us
Committee
Email: oia@ugm.ac.id
Tel.: +62274 563974 / +62274 6491833
Registration please click this link
ASIAN-AFRICAN FORUM 2015:
Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of 1955 Asian-African Conference
Asian-African Collaboration on Education, Economy, Technology and Culture towards the Excellence and Leadership of New Emerging Countries.
Venue: Balai Senat Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)
Date: April 30, 2015
Session I

Time	Event	Remarks, Speakers, PIC
Session I            Education and Leadership in Asian-             Moderator: African Region                                                Dr. Ika Dewi AnaThe recipient of Extraordinary Award ofIntellectual Property, Indonesia
10.45 – 11.05	Rethinking University Ranking: New alternatives in evaluating university quality in Asian-African Region	H.E. Arif Havas OegrosenoAmbassador of Rep. of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Communities (2010-2014)
11.05 – 11.25	Exploring the possibility for Asian-African University Network for collaboration on teaching, research and community services	Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D Rector, Universitas Gadjah Mada
11.25 – 11.45	Challenges and Opportunities in developing and maintaining collaboration among universities: Lesson Learned from Africa	Prof. Lazarus Hangula *) Rector, University of Namibia
11.45 – 12.05	Education for all: Strategy in ensuring equality in education, a South African Perspective	Prof. Sudha Pai *)Rector, Jawaharlal Nehru University
12.05 – 13.00	Discussion	Moderator
13.00 – 13.45	ISHOMA	Luncheon and prayers for Moslem participants

 
Session II

Time	Event		Remarks, Speakers, PIC
Session II	Economy, Technology, and Culture inAsian-African Region		Moderator:Dr. Edhie PurnawanVice Dean for Research, Community Services, Collaboration, and Alumni – Faculty of Economics and Business UGM
13.45 – 14.05	Mapping the future of Asia African friendship and partnership: capitalizing similarities, managing differences		H.E. Pakamisa Agustine Sifuba *) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Rep. of South Africa to the Rep. of Indonesia
14.05 – 14.25	Leadership roles of Asia and African countries in balancing power in the global stage: A Chinese perspective		H.E. Xie Feng *)Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The People’s Rep. of China to the Rep. of Indonesia
14.25 – 14.45	Emerging Powers in Global Industry: Reviewing readiness of human resourcesin emerging countries for global industries		Ahmad YuniartoChairman of Schulmberger Indonesia(2011-2015)
14.45 – 15.05	The development of nanotechnology and its future in the collaboration of Asia African Countries		Dr. Nurul Taufiqu Rohman, B.Eng, M.Eng Chairman of the Indonesian Society of Nanotechnology
15.05 – 16.00	Discussion		Moderator
16.00 – 16.30	BreakFormulation of Statements by team		Organizing CommitteeTask force for Statement
16.30	Concluding Remarks and Declaration ofStatement		Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D Rector of UGM