How is it Managed?

The AIMS Programme is managed by SEAMEO RIHED, as Secretariat, and the AIMS Steering Committee, which represents participating governments and universities, as well as a robust network of national and institutional focal points across Member Countries. The Programme possesses Management Mechanisms in the form of annual meetings that facilitate the regional coordination of the Programme. The operation of the Programme takes place through close coordination and collaboration among all Stakeholders, ensuring that implementation is based on two underlying Programme Principles.

The 13th Annual Review Meeting of the AIMS Programme

Management Mechanisms

The AIMS Programme operates at both national and regional levels. Member governments and their nominated universities work closely to support national implementation of the Programme. Regional coordination of the Programme is undertaken by SEAMEO RIHED and is ensured through the following two annual meetings that provide ongoing support to Programme management and implementation:

The Steering Committee Meeting

The AIMS Steering Committee serves as the decision-making body that guides the overall policy direction of the Programme. The Steering Committee is comprised of one government representative and one university representative from each Member Country who are officially nominated by the education ministry or an equivalent national authority responsible for higher education. Chaired by the Director of SEAMEO RIHED, the Steering Committee screens and resolves policy issues arising or raised by member governments or universities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Programme implementation.

Members of the Steering Committee meet once a year at the Steering Committee Meeting. The Meeting is hosted by Member Countries on a rotating basis.

The Annual Review Meeting

The Annual Review Meeting is another mechanism to facilitate Programme management at the regional level. Coordinated by SEAMEO RIHED, the Annual Review Meeting provides an opportunity for all stakeholders of the Programme, including government officials, university executives, faculty staff and International Relations Officers as well as students and alumni to review the Programme’s progress, discuss operational challenges and obstacles identified in different national contexts and reflect on the future development of the Programme. Any significant matters raised in the Annual Review Meeting are tabled at the following Steering Committee Meeting to scrutinise potential policy solutions.

The Annual Review Meeting was originally convened twice a year until 2014 when a decision was put forward to carry out the meeting annually. The meeting is hosted by Member Countries on a rotating basis. Reports of Annual Review Meetings are available here.

At the Annual Review Meeting, member governments share updates and progress on national implementation of the Programme including relevant policy changes that may affect the landscape of student mobility and policy recommendations for the Programme. On the other hand, the Meeting serves as a common platform for member universities not only to advance existing collaboration with peer universities in the Programme, but also to explore possibilities for new partnerships through networking. Furthermore, it marks an occasion where member universities can exchange knowledge and experiences to improve their curricula and enhance course alignment while also utilising the opportunity to discuss strategies for greater academic collaboration among member universities.

Stakeholders

The AIMS Programme is a multilateral platform where different stakeholders play their respective roles in the management of the Programme across varying operational levels. Learn more about the different stakeholders below:

SEAMEO RIHED

Since the initiation of the AIMS Programme, SEAMEO RIHED has continued to serve as Secretariat of AIMS, ensuring the smooth operation of the Programme at the regional level. SEAMEO RIHED administers the Programme by maintaining a network of dedicated national and institutional focal points, co-organising the Annual Review Meeting and Steering Committee Meeting and facilitating regional consultation among Member Countries. The SEAMEO RIHED Centre Director also serves as Chair of the Steering Committee Meeting and undertakes an executive role in formulating Programme policies with Steering Committee Members.

Governments

Governments play an important role in the AIMS Programme. As the Signing Parties of the Letter of Intent, an official inter-governmental agreement for the implementation of AIMS Programme, governments affirm their common commitment towards the Programme and promoting student mobility among Member Countries.

Governments are responsible for nominating universities that participate in the AIMS Programme in accordance with academic excellence and other national criteria they may have and determining disciplines in which the selected universities operate student mobility. While the internal funding arrangements vary across Member Countries, governments bear primary responsibility in coordinating with member universities financial support for students participating in the exchange.

Bridging national and regional coordination of the Programme, governments ensure relevant policies are in place to support mobility in their respective national contexts. Governments also work closely with participating universities and provide inputs at the Annual Review and Steering Committee Meetings to improve the effectiveness of regional implementation. To learn more about the Member Countries, click here.

Universities

Universities are at the forefront of the AIMS Programme. With the policy guidance and support from their respective national governments, they undertake the day-to-day management of the Programme both as home and host universities. The execution of student mobility is supported by various personnel within universities including faculty staff and International Relations Officers.

Universities provide a variety of support for inbound and outbound students participating in the AIMS Programme in all stages of their exchange. They communicate a range of essential information to current AIMS students as well as those who are interested in joining the Programme, including details of application procedures, selection criteria, course information, financial supports available to students, visa arrangement and accommodation during the exchange.

On another level, universities are committed to strengthening partnership with their peers participating in the AIMS Programme. In facilitating dialogue, they establish mutual agreement and ensure course alignment and compatibility so that credit transfer is arranged upon the return of students to their home university.

Universities also play a crucial role in providing feedback from the operation of the Programme and relaying this information to their national governments and the Secretariat for discussion at the Annual Review Meeting and Steering Committee Meeting.

Students and Alumni

Students and alumni are at the heart of the AIMS Programme. Through participating in the AIMS Programme, students are placed at one of the leading universities of another country under specific disciplines. While the Programme presents students the valuable opportunity to enhance their academic knowledge and develop intercultural competencies to help them navigate through life, AIMS students and alumni also contribute to the internationalisation of participating universities and development of a regional community.

As their voices matter to overall Programme implementation, the Annual Review Meeting invites students and alumni to share their insights into their experiences abroad. In this way, the Programme continues to engage with students even after their exchange period ends and their reflections as alumni remain crucial in making AIMS even more beneficial to future participating students.

The Bangkok Joint Statement of the AIMS Student Ambassadors, adopted at the 13th Annual Review Meeting of AIMS Programme held in November 2019 in Thailand, provided policy recommendations to member governments and universities of the AIMS Programme on the perspectives of the potential role of student mobility in creating a resilient and sustainable regional community.

Principles

The following core principles are among what makes AIMS a unique Programme and underpin its management and operation:

Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability

Ensures that Member Countries provide support for their own participation in the AIMS Programme. Each country bears responsibility for preparing the necessary funding arrangements, including the provision of financial support to students participating in the Programme, and establishing a relevant policy or structure of collaboration for national implementation.
New Member Countries are encouraged to join the Programme based on their financial and academic readiness.

Balanced Mobility and Reciprocity

Promotes the balanced flow of inbound and outbound students at institutional and national levels. The reciprocal number of exchange students within each discipline is mutually agreed among participating universities. On the other hand, member governments are responsible for monitoring the national flow of students in close coordination with their participating universities. Mobility data is relayed to the Secretariat through member governments and reviewed on an annual basis.