February 1-2, 2008

Workshop: International Collaboration for Formation and Development of Science and Technology Community in Southeast Asia: Strategy for Internationalization

An earlier workshop, "International Collaboration for Formation and Development of Science and Technology Community in Southeast Asia," (http://www.jsps.go.jp/j-astrategy/02_report070212.html) also held in Bangkok in February 2007, acknowledged the need for a more academic approach to building an Asian Science and Technology community, one bolstered by South-South cooperation and stronger support for human resource development. To strengthen the Southeast Asian collaborative relationship and make it more significant, it should not be limited exclusively to specific countries, but rather be inclusive of the entire framework of global cooperation. Reflecting this perspective, this 2008 workshop was considered how the internationalization strategies of university and research institutes in Japan and Southeast Asian countries can be linked in building a future S&T community in the region. Information was shared on anticipated modes of collaboration.

At the workshop, representatives of seven institutes (from five countries) delivered presentations on internationalization strategy from the perspective of national-level policies, as did representatives of another eleven institutes (from five countries) from the perspective of university-level policies. In the general discussion session, the roles and fields expected of Japan and of each Southeast Asian country were compared and discussed with a view to seeing how well they dovetailed. In building a network and community, it was pointed out that clearly defined common goals need to be established among countries in view of the considerable diversity that exists within the Asian region. It was further agreed that building such an Asian network will require strong initiative and support on the national policy level as well.