On the afternoon of April 27, 2023, the ACNET-EngTech hosted its 2022 workshop online. 24 universities from 7 countries, including members of Excellence 9, University of Macao, Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, University of Malaya, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology and among others. Gong Jinlong, vice president of Tianjin University, attended the conference and delivered a speech, accompanied by personnel from the Office of International Cooperation.
At the beginning of the conference, Banchong Mahaisavariya, the rotating presidency of ACNET-EngTech in 2022 and the president of Mahidol University, delivered an opening speech, fully affirming the role ACNET-EngTech plays as a platform. In addition, the president expressed sincere gratitude to all members for their support to the rotating presidency and expected to play a greater role in the development of higher education in engineering between China and ASEAN in the future.
At the conference, representatives from member universities exchanged basic information, contributions in 2022, cooperation and work plan for 2023 with each other. With regard to ACNET-EngTech’s work in 2023, since that the epidemic is gradually stabilizing, the member universities expressed their expectations and confidence for the future development. They would actively carry out offline cooperation and exchanges, continue to broaden the cooperation path, and constantly enrich the forms of cooperation. The two sides will carry out diverse cooperation in such areas as personnel training, scientific research, resource sharing and teacher-student exchanges, so as to achieve complementary advantages and win-win cooperation.
The conference then voted on the inclusion of new members and the conversion of observers to full membership. After deliberation, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Yangon officially joined the League. The University of Pahang Malaysia changed from an observer to a full member of the League. The conference also decided that Dalian University of Technology would be the rotating presidency of the League in 2023.
Vice President Gong Jinlong made a concluding speech at the conference. On the strategic cooperative relations between China and ASEAN, he expounded the significance of deepening exchanges and strengthening cooperation in the field of education. Congratulations are extended to new members and those becoming full members. President Gong also put forward Tianjin University’s initiative for the working in the coming year. He said that as the circle of friends continues to grow, Tianjin University hoped that the future work would be more dynamic and make greater progress.
ACNET-EngTech is committed to establishing a mechanism of international exchange and cooperation for engineering higher education between China and ASEAN, building a platform for information sharing and international academic exchange in engineering education and realizing the integration of ideas, exchange of experience, information service and sharing of achievements.
Up to now, the members of ACNET-EngTech have expanded to 26 universities in 8 countries. The League will set up secretariats in China and ASEAN respectively, with the Chinese secretariat at Tianjin University and the ASEAN Secretariat at Mahidol University in Thailand. Combined with academic strengths, the universities of the League continue to hold the opening activities of China-ASEAN Educational Exchange Week, summer programs for students, ASEAN scholars and other people-to-people and cultural exchange activities.
By: Ma Ziyu
Editor: Qin Mian
