The 9^th Steering Committee Meeting of the AIMS Programme

6-7 November 2024

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

The 9^th Steering Committee Meeting of the AIMS Programme was held on 6-7 November 2024 at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB), Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam with the theme “AIMS Future Forward and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning of AIMS”.

The Meeting was graciously hosted by the Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam. Twenty-two (22) participants attended the Meeting, including the Chair and Co-Chair of the SC, SC Members or their designated representatives and accompanying persons from AIMS Member Countries and SEAMEO RIHED staff.

The Meeting acknowledged the adoption of the ASEAN-SEAMEO Joint Declaration on the Common Space in Southeast Asian Higher Education, by the Education Ministers in Buriram, Thailand in August 2024. The Declaration synergises the work of ASEAN and SEAMEO for the shared vision of a more inclusive space of collective intelligence in higher education focused on sustainable living and learning in Southeast Asia.

Key Developments

Several important initiatives were introduced to strengthen and enhance the AIMS Programme:

• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Framework: A draft MEL framework has been developed to assess the programme’s impact. The framework will undergo further refinement by the AIMS Research Committee.
• Enhanced Information Accessibility: To facilitate student mobility, comprehensive information—such as visa and immigration processes and application deadlines—will be included on the AIMS website.
• Operational Handbook Update: The AIMS Operational Handbook will be revised, with the support from the newly set up Committee. The updated version expected to be launched during the 19th Annual Review Meeting in 2025.
• Pilot Summer Programmes: New summer programmes will be piloted in July/August 2025.

Student Participation in 2024

The meeting acknowledged that in 2024, the programme supported a total of 1,010 inbound students (538 physical, 29 hybrid, and 443 virtual with credits) and 548 outbound students in physical mobility.

New Members Endorsed

The Steering Committee endorsed the inclusion of three new universities from the Philippines

• Philippines:
  • Visayas State University (VSU): Agriculture, Engineering
  • Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU): Language and Culture, Agriculture, Biodiversity
  • Tarlac Agricultural University: Agriculture

Updates on Participation in Disciplines

The Steering Committee endorsed the new additions of participation in disciplines.

• Singapore:
  • Nanyang Technological University: Engineering
• Republic of Korea:
  • Gyongsang National University: Biodiversity

Mark your calendars for Upcoming AIMS Meetings in 2025

• The 10th Steering Committee Meeting on 8-10 July 2025 in the Philippines (for Steering Committee Members)
• The 19th Annual Review Meeting on 4-6 November 2025 in Penang, Malaysia. Stay tuned for more details!

SEAMEO RIHED wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam for their warm hospitality and gracious support in hosting the 9^th Steering Committee Meeting of the AIMS Programme!

Photos

At Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (BKISHHB) or “Hall of Treasures”.

AIMS Steering Committee Members and representatives.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, Chair of the AIMS SC Meeting and Centre Director of SEAMEO RIHED (left), Dr. Mona Aliana binti Dato Paduka Haji Awang Alimin, Head of Higher Education Division from MoE Brunei Darussalam and Co-Chair of the 9th Steering Committee Meeting (centre) Dr. Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam (right).

Meeting with AIMS students at the Welcome Dinner.

Visit to Laksamana College of Business.

Cultural visit to Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

About the AIMS Steering Committee

The AIMS Steering Committee serves as the decision-making body of AIMS that guides the overall policy direction of the Programme, supporting regional alignment of national systems that promotes regional mobility, and screening issues before the Annual Review Meeting. The Steering Committee comprises 1 representative from the government and 1 representative from the universities, officially nominated by the Ministry of Education of each AIMS Member Country.