Jakarta (VNA) – Thailand’s Mahidol University in coordination withKyushu University of Japan is holding a programme to learn about theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for students from ASEAN membercountries, Japan, China and Pakistan.

The online programme named ASEAN in Today’s World (AsTW) is taking place fromMarch 7-18 with the participation of 40 university students.

It is intended to help the students  deepen their knowledge about ASEAN, East Asia affairs, aswell as Asian languages and cultures.

In his remarks, Ekkaphab Phanthavongo,Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Communityhighlighted that "as citizens of the region, understanding the diversity,strength and potential of ASEAN in today’s world is fundamental in enabling usto support ASEAN community building effort and maximise its potential in thefuture.’’

Dr. Roger Y. Chao Jr., Head of Education,Youth & Sports Division of the ASEAN Secretariat kicked off the event witha 3-hour Special Lecture, introducing an overview of the development andinitiatives that advances the ASEAN Community-Building Project.

He also highlighted key initiatives that theASEAN Community undertook to address various challenges the region faces, suchas the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resource Development for a Changing World ofWork, ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, and the ASEAN DigitalizationMasterplan 2025.

Since its launch in 2009, the ASEAN inToday’s World has been conducted annually by Kyushu University in collaborationwith a consortium of universities from ASEAN and Japan, namely Vietnam NationalUniversity, Hanoi, Ateneo de Manila University, Mahidol University, UniversitiMalaya and Fukuoka Women’s University./.