New students boarded the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme with the recent AIMS Virtual Regional Orientation, Go ASIA Go AIMS! AY 2023/2024 S1 last September 2, 2023!

With more than 150 participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and now, also including Cambodia, the newest addition to the participating countries in the AIMS Programme, the flight VRO2324 was packed with new AIMS Freshers, programme alumni, and university representatives–all contributing to the growing AIMS Family!

The 3-hour flight included 3 sessions: first, Welcome, Exploring Asia, Embracing Diversity, where students got to learn more about the AIMS Programme; second, Characteristics of your fruitful AIMS Journey which consisted of 3 workshops to spark ideas on the characteristics promoted by the programme: self-competence, intercultural competency, and regional and global awareness; and last but not the least, the  Country Gate Networking session divided into their destination countries, where students learned more about what they should prepare and their country of destination from alumni and university representatives.

The AIMS Virtual Regional Orientation provided an avenue for students to expand their networks, develop self-efficacy, and deepen intercultural awareness, aiding them in their academic exchange and strengthening their identities as members of the region and skills as global citizens. 

We would like to give our special appreciation to the AIMS Regional Orientation Task Force, AIMS alumni, and AIMS member university representatives. We wish AIMS Freshers an exciting and meaningful exchange journey this coming semester. 

‘Til we meet again next year! 

Highlights from Flight VRO2324

The orientation’s captains opening the virtual orientation

Captains (hosts) Low Yee Teng, Tay Jun Pin, and Siti Sarah and their crew members welcomed Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Programme Freshers for their upcoming academic exchange for the 1st semester of the year 2023-2024.

Dr. Kosaikanont delivering her welcoming remarks to the participants

Asst. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, Centre Director of SEAMEO RIHED, encouraged the new AIMS students to maximize their learning from their academic exchange, form lifetime friendships, serve as their country’s ambassadors, and contribute to the region and its sustainable development.

Sophea closing her talk with an inspiring message to the new AIMS students

Alumni Talk: Sophea Rey, a recent AIMS alumni from the National University of Management and one of the first Cambodians who joined the programme, shared some of her proud moments during her academic exchange, such as learning other cultures and as well as being able to share about her country with her friends during their visit to Cambodia.

Co-creation of an AIMS Mascot at the Self-Competence Breakout Room

Learning about K-Dance at the Intercultural Competency Breakout Room

A poll on SDGs at the Regional and Global Awareness Breakout Room

Divided into three breakout rooms, participants learned about self-competence, intercultural competency, and regional and global awareness. The workshops were led by Guillian Mecate and Ivan Monasterial from the University of the Philippines, Professor Yoo Taek Lee from Woosong University in Korea, and Dr. Sheilla Trajera and Gian Aguirre from the University of Saint La Salle in the Philippines, respectively. 

Engaging the participants through an icebreaker in the Malaysia Breakout Room

AIMS Freshers hearing insights from AIMS Alumni and university representatives at the Q&A Country Breakout Rooms as they prepare to embark on the AIMS Journey.

The captains announcing the first turbulence

Throughout the program, thrilling flight turbulences were also experienced in the form of IG quizzes wherein students actively participated. As with life, students may experience disruptions but we can prepare and be ready to tackle them together!

Some of the participants forming the letters A, I, M, and S

Thank you to all the AIMS Freshers who joined the AIMS Virtual Regional Orientation. Make sure to join the AIMS Alumni Network to stay connected with the AIMS Family!