DECIPHERING THE COMPLEXITIES: UNPUZZLING POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND SECURITY DYNAMICS IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGIONALIZATION

There were allegedly optimistic prospects of the post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery. During the
pandemic, humanity faced many uncertainties such as disrupted global production and supply chains,
food (in)security, global economic recession followed by high inflation, and humanity, once again stands
perplexed in front of the new “un-knowns”. The list of which in the current moment is reinforced by the
Ukrainian crises and Palestinian-Israeli war. Nevertheless, even in this convoluted situation, there are
many indications that Southeast Asia remains a strategically important region when it comes to the
endurance of the global geopolitical order, representativeness of the global governance and securing
global security and development.

The picturesque landscapes of the Southeast Asian region, rising social awareness of the importance of
digitalization, vibrant civilizational and bamboozled political relations followed by territorial disputes as
a mixture of historical heritage and overlapping strategic needs, closely intertwined trading and financial
relations including labor migrations for new business opportunities and labor rights protection represent
the features that define Southeast Asian region as the unique part of the globe. However, the leaders of
the Southeast Asian states, by establishing on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, the Association of the
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) instead of securitization, used the abovementioned complexity to
make their partnerships more predictable and transparent. As years passed by, the ASEAN has been
institutionalizing its power and promoting the Asian view of multilateralism and regionalism based on
diversity, confluence, and coexistence rather than on the one size fits all approach. Thus, in 1994, ASEAN
established wider trans-regional cooperation known as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and in 1999,
ASEAN institutionalized its relations with China, Japan and Republic of Korea which resulted in
establishing the ASEAN plus Three (APT) platform of cooperation.

However, the clout of (geo)political, cultural, security and (geo)economic influence of these three
countries in the vicinity of the Southeast Asian region should not be considered only through the lens of
the APT, but also through the lens of their strategies and transforming initiatives of obtaining food
security, energy security, cyber security, as well as countering the non-traditional security threats and
perception of the USA Indo-Pacific strategy. Thus, both intra and trans-regional cooperation of the
Southeast Asian region is vivid, and the decisions made in this region tackle the whole world.

The goal of the OBIC Conference is to provide scholars and professionals with an excellent opportunity
to exchange their views and share experiences in this broad field. PhD candidates are also welcome to
present their most recent research in a separate panel.

Since Budapest Business University (BBU) focuses on applied sciences in its research agenda, the OBIC
Conference would mainly invite papers focusing on the following topics – in relation to Asia – and
arrange the panels according to them.

Suggested topics and panel themes:

• Economic and political integration of the Southeast Asian region
• Security dynamics and geopolitical order of the Southeast Asian region
• The role of the ASEAN in global governance
• ASEAN, ASEAN plus Three, and USA Indo-Pacific
• Migration
• Digitalization and innovation
• Entrepreneurship and business environment of the Southeast Asian region
• Energy security and the Southeast Asian region
• Discursive power of the Southeast Asian region

Important dates:

• Abstract submission: February 1, 2024
• Notification of accepted papers: February 10, 2024
• Full paper submission: May 20, 2024
• Preliminary program: April 12, 2024
• Conference date: May 10, 2024
• Conference location: Budapest, Hungary
• Organizer: Budapest Business University, Oriental Business and Innovation Center (OBIC)

Registration with the submission of the abstract shall be done at the following link:

https://www.obic-bbs.hu/en/abstract-submission-obic2024/ 

For presenters, OBIC offers publication opportunity in its OBIC Book Series. For more, see the details on the
website.

In case of any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact us at obic@uni-bge.hu!
Further information on OBIC Conference 2024 is available on the official OBIC website:
https://www.obic-bbs.hu/en/obic-conference-2024/

Greetings from Harvard and Sophia !

The Harvard University will host a seminar, “Challenges of Ending Wars in the Age of Division: The War in Ukraine and Peacebuilding in Africa” 

The event will be co-hosted by Sophia Institute of International Relations, as well as the Ukraine Research Institute at Harvard University, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and Center for African Studies at Harvard University.

DATE : 6 December 2023

TIME : 10:30 am – 12:30 pm (in NY time in the US.)

Prof. Daisaku Higash, professor in Center for Global Education at Sophia University in Tokyo and Prof. Serhii Plokhii, Director of Ukraine Research Institutes at Harvard University will deliver lectures. The seminar will be conducted in person and online.

The below is the link of the event. Everybody and students in the world are welcomed to register for the zoom participation and attend it by online (it is free).

https://africa.harvard.edu/event/challenges-ending-wars-age-division-war-ukraine-and-peace-building-africa

On 17 November 2023, H.E. Dominic Jermey CVO, OBE (British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste) paid an ambassadorial visit to UGM, along with Juliana Ritcher (Deputy Head of Second Cities), Melisa Kusuma (Regional Outreach Manager for Central Java & Yogyakarta), Faye Belnis (Spokesperson), and Bianka Syarief (Media & Communication Team. H.E. Dominic Jermey and representatives from the British Embassy were cordially welcomed by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., (Vice Rector for Education and Teaching), Ir. Wiratni, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., IPM. (Deputy Director of Partnerships & Global Relations), as well as representatives from Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School, Vocational School, Directorate of Education and Learning.

This visit aimed to introduce the newly appointed 21st ambassador of the UK to Indonesia and touched on the existing and potential collaborations between universities/institutions in the UK and UGM. “We have seen that the UK is strong in its impact on SDGs. A lot of programs have evidently been set up by the UK government that work for the cause of SDGs as well as disability. Building an inclusive space for scholars with disabilities is what we are also aiming to do,” said Prof. Wening, which was responded positively by H.E. Dominic Jermey. This initiation to work for inclusivity and securing the rights of people with disabilities coincides with the upcoming International Day of Disabled People on December 3rd.

This meeting sends a strong signal of the long and continuous partnership between UGM and the British government. Dating back to 2006, UGM has partnered with various types of UK institutions/universities, research institutes, and governmental bodies, and even participated in the formation of UK-Indonesia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Science (UKICIS) in 2020–2021. “Through the government, we can work to create a conducive atmosphere and make the right policy for the environment on university level,” said H.E. Dominic Jermey. Both sides also agreed to reinforce partnerships in education through international mobility, double degree programs, and globalization of UGM’s study programs. Furthermore, to make a reach into the UK, a collaboration between UGM and UK’s research center in Cambridge is in the works for the development of science and technology. Research between two sides will also be expanded to the fields of climate change, being one of the most important issues to be addressed in this era.

Ending his ambassadorial visit to UGM, H.E. Dominic Jermey delivered a public lecture “UK – Indonesia Bilateral Relationships” in Faculty of Cultural Sciences and engaged in a direct dialogue to deepen the understanding of the relationship between UK and UGM. Most importantly, the lecture informed the young generation, as the next future leaders, thinkers, and doers, to share a sense of the future to tackle climate change. H.E. Dominic Jermey hopes that through the voice of youth and working with the government, civil societies, leaders and educators, the global temperature increase can be maintained below 1.5°C to secure a livable planet for centuries to come.

Red: Angely/OIA

 

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)’s main goal in international collaboration is to promote UGM’s existence and reputation as a global player in higher education. One of the strategies to achieve this goal is building thematic collaboration through university collaboration or consortium. As the pandemic subsides, UGM welcomes and actively rebuilds the collaboration with many partners from all over the world in person. UGM believes that through a direct connection, stronger engagement could be established. 

In the spirit of building an effective collaboration with the university’s partners, Rector UGM, Prof. Ova Emilia, together with the university and faculty management leaders (Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of law, Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Cultural Sciences)visited 6 universities and 2 institutions in European countries from 26 October to 3 November 2023 beginning at the Czech Republic. UGM’s delegates were welcomed by H.E. Kenssy Ekaningsih, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Czech Republic. She hosted a welcoming dinner at Wisma Duta Indonesia. In the ceremony, H.E Ambassador Kenssy said “A lot of potential collaboration that could be explored in Czech and the Embassy will be very open to facilitating and connecting UGM to targeted partners in Czech”.

On 27 October 2023, the delegates visited Palacky University to explore more potential collaboration which has been initiated by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences through the Erasmus+ Project and IISMA program. The delegates were welcomed by JUDr. Mag. iur. Michal Malacka, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs, Statutory Representative of the Rector together with other UPOL’s faculty members. He said, “Good collaboration is not only in the paper but the most important is the program implementation that will have an impact for both universities”. After networking sessions exploring potential programs, the delegates have the opportunity to see the student hub for entrepreneurship development including Digi2Health. 

( The delegates were welcomed by JUDr. Mag. iur. Michal Malacka, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs, Statutory Representative of the Rector together with the other UPOL’s faculty members. )

 

On the 30th of October 2023, following the Alumni meeting at Den Haag on 29 October 2023, the Rector and delegates visited the University of Leiden (UL) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR) Netherlands. Starting at the UL, the President of the Executive Board, Professor Annetje Ottow welcomed Prof. Ova Emilia at the Faculty Club after parallel faculty meetings. Besides strengthening the existing collaboration, the agenda of visitation is signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Joint Research and Expertise Centre Agreement regarding Zebrafish Research. The commitment of the two universities’ collaboration was tightened by signing the Letter of Intent (LoI) regarding the establishment of the Indonesia – Netherlands Universities Consortium on Sustainable Futures (INUCoST). At the Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Sjoukje Heimovaara, President Executive Board WUR welcomed the delegates and presented the WUR’s profile followed by a presentation from the Dean of Education and the Dean of Research. At the separated meeting groups, the delegates discussed and identified the potential of further development programs. 

( At the Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Sjoukje Heimovaara, President Executive Board WUR welcomed the delegates and presented the WUR’s profile followed by a presentation from the Dean of Education and the Dean of Research. )

 

On the 31 of October, the delegates visited the University of Groningen (UG) led by Prof. Ova Emilia  and Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Dronten led by Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Finance, Prof Supriyadi. The collaboration with UG has resulted in many strategic programs such as staff and student exchange, joint research, joint supervision, and double degree programs. UGM and UG are aware that the existing programs should be escalated to the next level. Both universities agreed to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. The focus of the discussions was the development of a joint Hub for the Future of Human Welfare, with its main aim to co-create sustainable innovations and solutions to pursue future human welfare from the pillars of education, research, and community outreach. In the Hub, the focus will be on the following themes: Liveable Cities, Adaptive Natural Resources Management, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Equitable Global Health, and Accelerated Energy Transition.

At the Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Drs. Wil Bekkering, Dean International Strategy welcomed the delegates and introduced Aeres to all delegations. Continuing with the acknowledgement from Prof Supriyadi, “UGM and Aeres have established an agreement with implementation program by faculty of animal sciences however it could be expanded to interdisciplinary collaboration that includes other agro-science faculty like Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, and Faculty of Forestry”. The specific and effective discussion came up with 19 points to follow up such as increasing the numbers of staff and student exchange, PEC project on food security, joint program (summer course, conference, guest lecture), joint research, project of cage-free poultry, and many more. After discussion, the delegates were invited to visit the Aeres Experimental Farms. 

( At the Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Drs. Wil Bekkering, Dean International Strategy welcomed the delegates and the discussion came up with 19 points to follow up such as increasing the numbers of staff and student exchange, PEC project on food security, joint program (summer course, conference, guest lecture), joint research, project of cage-free poultry, and many more. ) 

On the 1st of November, UGM met and discussed the potential collaboration with JANZZ Technology, a private company in Switzerland that works in the field of technology and strategy development to fill in the gap between labor and employee needs. Exploration and further strengthening collaboration with the University of Zurich were accomplished by parallel meetings with the respective faculty members on the next day. Despite the strong partnership programs that have been established by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, the meeting explored more potential programs such as staff and student mobility, joint research, and joint programs. Concluding the meeting, Prof Ova said, “One of the aims of this visitation is to invite reputable university like the University of Zurich to collaborate in developing the Institute of Future Life in the New Capital City, Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) Nusantara and after this meeting, I look forward to a more comprehensive strategic collaboration between UGM and UZH not only for education but research and community service as well”. The visit to UZH was welcomed by the President, Prof. Dr. Michael Schaepman, several management and faculty members and this became the end of the visitation series to Europe. (Adhe/ OIA)

Left : ( Meeting with JANZZ Technology )

Right : ( The visit to UZH was welcomed by the President, Prof. Dr. Michael Schaepman, and several management and faculty members. ) 

Greetings from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia.

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) is a prominent Malaysian public university with a strong reputation for academic excellence and a commitment to providing quality higher education. Established in 2002, UTAR is named after Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and is known for its dedication to fostering holistic development, research, and innovation.

We are pleased to inform you that the application for Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) International Young Leaders Conference 2023 is now open for Universitas Gadjah Mada students.

 

Itinerary List

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

“International Young Leaders Conference” (IYLC) themed Mental Health and Community Resilience is a program that fosters multi-stakeholder idea sharing and crosscutting partnerships for the implementation of SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) as well as to harness the role of higher learning institutions in the implementation of the SDG 13 and 10 especially community resilience in times of crises. This conference is also to provide a platform for students and youths to discuss and share ideas of enhancing community resilience in cities as well as adaptation solutions towards crises.

• Date: 23 – 30 November 2023

• Venue: Multipurpose Hall, KB Block, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Sungai Long Campus, Malaysia

• Participants Fee: USD 680

• Targeted Participants: Students, Staff, Lecturers, Helping Professionals, NGOs in the Relevant Fields

 

ELIGIBILITY

1. Undergraduate students (S1) or Graduate students (S2/S3)
2. Enrolled in Universitas Gadjah Mada during the program
3. Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
4. Be proficient in English

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. Official Academic Transcript
2. English Language Proficiency
3. Letter of Enrollment from Faculty
4. Letter of Nomination from Faculty (addressed to the Head of Office of International Affairs UGM)
5. Letter of Recommendation from the Academic Advisor
6. Curriculum Vitae
7. Motivation Letter
8. Colored Copy of Passport
9. Confirmation Letter of Participation (download) 
10. Passport Size Photo 

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Submit the aforementioned documents to UGM International Exposure Application Form: http://ugm.id/IntExposureApplication no later than 10 November 2023 for internal review.
2. OIA staff will evaluate your application. Once you are selected as Nominated Applicants, OIA will confirm your official nomination to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and you may proceed to the online application.
3. The FINAL decision is from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

• In the meantime, the students are required to keep the hard file of all documents until further notice by the Office of International Affairs.
• In case the faculty could not provide the letter of enrollment and nomination during this period, the official nomination through email from the faculty is acceptable. The official nomination could be delivered to head-oia@ugm.ac.id (cc to scholarship@ugm.ac.id

 

CONSULTATION INFO

If you have any questions regarding this program, you can contact us in OIA’s office hour:

• Whatsapp: +62 812-1888-7818 (WA)
• Email: scholarship@ugm.ac.id

Virtual consultation: https://ugm.id/AppointmentOIAUGM  

Warm greetings from Palacký University Olomouc.

Palacký University Olomouc, located in Olomouc, Czech Republic, is one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education. Established in 1573, it has a rich history and a strong academic tradition.

We are pleased to inform you that the application for Palacký University Olomouc 8th Erasmus+ International Staff Week 2023 is now open for Universitas Gadjah Mada staff engaged in international affairs. 

 

Website

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

• • Blended Intensive Programme
  • Virtual Session Date: 27 November 2023

• Physical Session Date: 4-8 December 2023

• Virtual Session Content: Introduction about Palacký University, history and culture of our UNESCO city and our country. 

• Physical Session Theme: New Priorities and Challenges in the Erasmus+ Programme, such as sustainability, mental health, or students with special needs

• Transportation & Accommodation: Covered by participants or participants unit

 

ELIGIBILITY

1. Universitas Gadjah Mada staff engaged in the international affairs (ie. International Office Coordinators, Faculty/Department Coordinators, etc)
2. Be proficient in English

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. Official Academic Transcript
2. English Language Proficiency
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Motivation Letter
5. Colored Copy of Passport
6. Confirmation Letter of Participation (download) 
7. Passport Size Photo 

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Submit the aforementioned documents to UGM International Exposure Application Form: http://ugm.id/IntExposureApplication no later than 15 October 2023 for internal review.
2. OIA staff will evaluate your application. Once you are selected as Nominated Applicants, OIA will confirm your official nomination to Palacký University Olomouc and you may proceed to the online application.
3. The FINAL decision is from Palacký University Olomouc.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

• In the meantime, the students are required to keep the hard file of all documents until further notice by the Office of International Affairs.
• In case the faculty could not provide the letter of enrollment and nomination during this period, the official nomination through email from the faculty is acceptable. The official nomination could be delivered to head-oia@ugm.ac.id (cc to scholarship@ugm.ac.id

 

CONSULTATION INFO

If you have any questions regarding this program, you can contact us in OIA’s office hour:

• Whatsapp: +62 812-1888-7818 (WA)
• Email: scholarship@ugm.ac.id

Virtual consultation: https://ugm.id/AppointmentOIAUGM  

Greetings from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia!

The Master of Psychology (Industrial and Organisational Psychology), Faculty of Arts and Social Science, UTAR and in collaborating with the Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, is organising a virtual talk on “Navigating the Future of Work: Upskilling, Ethics and Employee Well-being“.

In this talk, we will explore key trends that reshape the workforce. With AI and automation set to displace roles, companies must invest in upskilling and reskilling workers. However, new technologies also raise ethical concerns about human values, transparency, and bias.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the opportunities and challenges ahead. The choices we make today determine tomorrow’s workplace.

The details of the virtual talk are as follows:

Date: 6^th October 2023 (Friday)
Time: 8.00 PM – 9.30 PM (MYT)
Platform: Zoom
Admission: FREE to all

Interested participants may register via the link below or the QR code in the poster:
https://tinyurl.com/bdfs7zkt

For more information, please contact:
Mr Tan Soon Aun tansa@utar.edu.my

Greetings from Budapest Business University!

In November 2023, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences organises the event Celebration of Hungarian Science for the 20th time under the title “Day of Hungarian Science 2023”. This distinguished event of Hungarian scientific life includes programmes held both in Hungary and abroad. Following suit, Budapest Business University is joining this year’s event by organising a conference titled: Branding in the academic and business world – Future challenges.  

Date: 9th November 2023 09:00 AM  

Venue: Budapest Business University – Markó street 29-31. Budapest H-1055  

  The conference is inviting papers and publications by researchers, academics and PhD students on the following topics:   

• Academic dissemination as university branding  
• Branding circular organisations  
• Branding the future: visions and strategies in the international economy  
• Challenges of branding in SMEs  
• Digitalization in branding  
• European University networks branding  
• Future challenges in tourism branding   
• Industry and university partnerships/relations, and its tools for branding  
• Missions and values: similarities and differences in external communication  
• Positioning through special target group relations  
• The role of branding in tourism resilience  
• The role of ecological footprint calculations in organisational branding  

Abstract submission deadline: 9th October 2023.  

The conference offers two publication opportunities:   

• publishing in a peer-reviewed conference proceeding with an ISBN number containing studies with a separate DOI number. Paper submission information will be launched on the website soon on the website.  
• publishing in Budapest Business School’s open access journal Prosperitas. For information on manuscript submission to this journal, please, click here.  

The detailed programme, registration and abstract submission information are available on the conference website. 

Greetings from Singapore Management University (SMU).

 

Singapore Management University (SMU) is a renowned and prestigious university located in the heart of Singapore. Established in 2000, SMU is known for its innovative and forward-thinking approach to education and research.

We are pleased to inform you that the application for Singapore Management University INDEX Symposium 2023 is now open for Universitas Gadjah Mada students.

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

SMU is organising the inaugural 2023 Industry Project-based Experiential Learning (INDEX) Symposium to be held at SMU (Singapore) from 4th to 6th October 2023. The 3-day symposium comprises workshops, panel discussions, roundtables and experiential activities that will see experienced practitioners share their knowledge and experiences relating to the theme Industry Project-based Experiential Learning in the 21st Century Asia: Industry, Integration, Innovation, Internationalisation.  

 

For more information, kindly check their website.

 

CONSULTATION INFO

If you have any questions regarding this program, you can contact us in OIA’s office hour:

• Whatsapp: +62 812-1888-7818 (WA)
• Email: scholarship@ugm.ac.id

Virtual consultation: https://ugm.id/AppointmentOIAUGM  

Greetings from Hungary!

In November 2023, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences organises the event Celebration of Hungarian Science for the 20th time under the title “Day of Hungarian Science 2023”. This distinguished event of Hungarian scientific life includes programmes held both in Hungary and abroad. Following suit, Budapest Business University is joining this year’s event by organising a conference titled: Branding in the academic and business world – Future challenges. 

Date: 9th November 2023 09:00 AM 

Venue: Budapest Business University – Markó street 29-31. Budapest H-1055 

 

The conference is inviting papers and publications by researchers, academics and PhD students on the following topics:

• Academic dissemination as university branding
• Branding circular organisations
• Branding the future: visions and strategies in the international economy
• Challenges of branding in SMEs
• Digitalization in branding
• European University networks branding
• Future challenges in tourism branding
• Industry and university partnerships/relations, and its tools for branding
• Missions and values: similarities and differences in external communication
• Positioning through special target group relations
• The role of branding in tourism resilience
• The role of ecological footprint calculations in organisational branding

Abstract submission deadline: 9^th October 2023. 

The conference offers two publication opportunities:  

• publishing in a peer-reviewed conference proceeding with an ISBN number containing studies with a separate DOI number. Paper submission information will be launched on the website soon on the website.
• publishing in Budapest Business School’s open access journal Prosperitas. For information on manuscript submission to this journal, please, click here.

The detailed programme, registration and abstract submission information are available on the conference website.