Asean University proposal gathering momentum

The Bangkok Post, PLOENPOTE ATTHAKOR, 29/03/2009 at 12:00 AM

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT : Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan has endorsed the idea of an Asean University as proposed by a group of prominent academics in the region.

Mr Surin discussed the proposal with Charnvit Kasetsiri, lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Thammasat University's liberal arts faculty, at a forum on "The Islamic World and Muslims in Southeast Asia". The forum was held by the Social Science Textbook Foundation and Toyota Foundation in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Mr Surin said he was approached by Shaharil Talib, a renowned historian and senior official at the Malaysian Attorney-General's Office, who sought his support for the proposal.

"I told him to work out a concept paper and submit it to me," Mr Surin said. He added leading academics will participate in the project, making contributions writing curriculum.

According to Mr Surin, Prof Shaharil was accompanied by the governor of Riau, on Indonesia's Bantam Island, who pledged to donate a plot of land for use as the university site. Mr Surin said the university did not need to be big at this stage, adding it would instead make full use of cyber technology and serve as a "virtual university".

He said there was a need for countries in the grouping, which was founded 40 years ago, to foster what he called an "Asean identity". He said it was apparent people in the grouping still thought of themselves as separate nationalities and not Asean citizens.

Mr Charnvit, who is secretary of the Social Science Textbook Foundation, said the new university should be multi-disciplinary.

"While it may offer engineering and other sciences, the new university should be strong in social science," he said, adding it would help people in the grouping develop an "Asean spirit" that will help them understand each other better. He said the university can be located in any of the 10 Asean countries. He said he will discuss the project with Maria Diokno, ex-chancellor of the University of the Philippines, next week in Manila.

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