Blog post written by Assia Baric (PhD Candidate; Ewha GSIS Student)
The 4th Southeast Asian Conference on Education (SEACE 2024) focused on modern challenges faced by educators, particularly in ASEAN countries. Addressed topics included internationalization, multicultural environments, mobility, accessibility, rapidly changing requirements and curricula, trans-national education, cultural and social diversity, capacity building, school violence, and much more. The conference served as an excellent opportunity for scholars and students to exchange ideas, experiences, and perspectives, sharing knowledge that can be used to improve how information is both taught and absorbed at all levels. The topics discussed were also wide-ranging, ensuring everyone’s interests were included.
The conference was held in Thailand for the first time, featuring Thai perspectives and experiences, as well as those of experts from around the world, including the University of Hawaii, the Asian Political and International Studies Association, and many more. Over 200 participants from 38 countries attended, providing for a rich and diverse environment. Professors from Ewha Womans University contributed with their insights on how to use training and education to build resilience, improve governance and develop communities. Doctoral students also had the wonderful opportunity to share their research and get valuable feedback from colleagues, as well as practice presenting their ideas in a professional setting, to a wider multidisciplinary audience. As doctoral research mostly consists of individual study in front of a screen or a book, getting the chance to disseminate knowledge and reflect on it critically through human interaction was an invaluable and much appreciated opportunity. It was also a nice chance to reconnect with friends and Ewha alumni from Thailand, as well as learn about incredible Thai culture.
Blog post written by Ella Joy Ponce (PhD Candidate; Ewha GSIS Student)
This trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to present at the Southeast Asian Conference on Education (SEACE 2024) was truly a learning and memorable experience. It was my first time to present at an International Conference not held in the Philippines, and I met scholars from different countries during the conference. During the opening ceremony, the President of IAFOR, Dr. Joseph Haldane, asked us to mingle with other conference participants, and I got to meet professors from South Africa, Indonesia, and Thailand. We particularly had the opportunity to talk to Prof. Adisorn Juntrasook before his keynote speech about addressing school violence.
The featured panel of professors and research fellow from Ewha Womans University was particularly interesting as it tackled a different aspect of education and looked at Peace Education and Governance Capacity-Building.
For our panel presentation, I presented the paper entitled “Understanding International and Regional Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education: A Focus on the Asia Pacific Region” and had some interesting comments regarding the influence of economic development between developing and developed countries in terms of their collaboration for SDG research among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). I gained some ideas for possible areas of improvement for our paper and potential research topics to pursue. I also learned a lot from my fellow PhD students’ papers, particularly regarding Education in Emergencies, Peacebuilding in Colombia, and the challenges in the current maritime governance. It made me reflect on the connection and intersection of education with international relations, particularly in pursuing sustainable development and equity.
Outside the conference sessions, I immersed myself in Thai culture, sampling local cuisine and participating in temple rituals. Riding the iconic “red car” to visit Chiang Mai’s temples and hanging wishing scrolls was a highlight of my cultural exploration. I want to thank the Frontier 10-10 program and Ewha GSIS, especially Ms. Sukyung Kim and Prof. Brendan Howe, for their unwavering support throughout this enriching journey.
Ewha GSIS 