The University of Cambodia launches the ASEAN Study Center as part of its affiliated programs to spread knowledge and understand, about ASEAN and about Cambodia, to its students and the community at large. Excellency Dr.Kao Kim Hourn - pictured left (Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and President of the University of Cambodia), Excellency Lav Chhiv Eav (High Representative of Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports), Mrs. Kyawt Kyawt Khaing (High Representative of Ambassador Cho Htun Aung of the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the Kingdom of Cambodia), and Mr. Bandol Lim (Executive Director ASEAN Study Center) officially launched the center in the presence of Ambassadors, embassy representatives, ministry representatives, dialogue partners, university representatives, faculty, staff, and students.
Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn noted that in mid-January, Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron (Minister of MoEYS) sent an offi cial endorsement letter to the university in support of the establishment of the ASEAN Study Center. The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also voiced their support for the Center’s development as well. Excellency Dr. Kao also made everyone aware that the Secretary-General of ASEAN fully supports the development and operation of the ASEAN Study Center of the University of Cambodia.
Excellency Dr. Kao said that ASEAN will be the source upon which member nations, communities, families, and future generations rely on. It is the link between all of us, binding each of us into interdependent communities. Cambodia has a place, we all have a place, and we all have a role in working towards the ASEAN Community and beyond.
“An important step to community
building and to integration
is educating the people.
An education that empowers
the people to seek collective
ways to overcome the diversity
of more than 600 million people is vital. Education is a
critical component of any successful
strategy for achieving
a sustainable ASEAN future,”
said Dr. Kao.
The concept of ASEAN presents economical, political, social, environmental, educational, and communicational challenges due to its comprehensiveness and complexity. However, these issues center principally on the needs to enhance public awareness and understanding of ASEAN and of Cambodia. Education and communication are essential elements for the successful and effective implementation of the ASEAN Community and Cambodia’s integration. Additionally, it must be recognized that education, communication, and public awareness will play a central role in the implementation of the ASEAN Study Center’s programs.
Excellency Dr. Kao reiterated that all of us have a role to play in enhancing awareness and understanding of the ASEAN Study Center, the ASEAN Community, and Cambodia. Each and everyone
of us has a role and a range of skills to support and complement one another’s efforts.
The ASEAN Studies Center (ASC) will serve as a policy and academic think tank, conducting research on specific issues related to ASEAN. And, the Center will also provide an essential channel to enhance regional integration and cooperation for the benefit of all member-states.
The ASEAN Study Center aims to be a center of excellence focused on ASEAN affairs and Cambodia’s integration into ASEAN Economic Community. It will serve two primary objectives:
1. to promote awareness and understanding of ASEAN within Cambodia; and
to promote awareness and understanding of Cambodia amongst other members of ASEAN.
Its secondary objective is to provide perspectives and inputs from interested stakeholders, for feedback and recommendations to the Royal Government and to the ASEAN Secretariat and other member states on the impact of existing policies and other initiatives. To achieve this end, the Center will use several approaches including:
The local media - contributing articles to local journals and newspapers, such as the Southeast Asia Weekly; providing educational radio and TV programs through SEA Radio and SEATV and other local broadcasters
Development of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and diploma courses, and a focus on ASEAN Studies as component courses at the University of Cambodia
Conduct Seminars, workshops, and fora focused on ASEAN related topics
Dissemination of information through journals, newspapers, conference proceedings, publications and programs using various media outlets
The ASEAN Study Center is open to everyone wishing to learn about ASEAN, Monday-Friday, 9am -5pm. The Center would like to thank ASEAN member state representatives, embassy representatives, ministry representatives, dialogues partners, academics, faculty, staff, and students for taking time out of their busy schedule to make the official launch of the ASEAN Study Center a success. The ceremony was conducted at the University of Cambodia at 10am, on Saturday, 8 February 2014.
