20th ASEA-UNINET Plenary Meeting

ASEA-UNINET Network OfficeNews

The 20th Plenary Meeting of ASEA-UNINET, held in Brescia, Italy from 8–12 September 2025, brought together universities from across Europe and ASEAN under the theme “for a peaceful and sustainable development”.

Expanding the Network

During the network’s elections, ASEA-UNINET welcomed new institutions as Candidate Members, marking a significant expansion:

  • Cambodia: Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC)

  • Czech Republic: Palacký University Olomouc (UP)

  • Italy: University of Torino (UniTo)

  • Malaysia: Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA)

  • Romania: Transilvania University of Brașov (UniTBV)

  • Romania: Western University of Timișoara (UVT)

  • Thailand: Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music (PGVIM)

  • Timor Leste: Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL)

The addition of Romania and Timor Leste introduces two new countries into the network, with Timor Leste’s participation especially significant, as it brings forward the voice of ASEAN’s youngest nation.

Five Candidate Members were also elected as Full Members:

  • Austria: University of Arts Linz

  • Indonesia: Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD)

  • Thailand: Walailak University (WU)

  • Thailand: Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC)

  • Vietnam: Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT)

The Plenary Meeting also marked a change in leadership, with Dr. Mullika Sungsanit, Vice Rector for Engagement, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand, elected as the new President of ASEA-UNINET. Dr. Sungsanit brings extensive experience in fostering academic innovation and international collaboration, and her leadership is expected to further strengthen the network’s role in promoting peace, sustainability, and cross-regional academic exchange.

The Significance of Timor Leste’s Participation

Timor Leste’s representation within ASEA-UNINET is deeply symbolic. As ASEAN’s newest member, the country embodies resilience, peacebuilding, and regional cooperation after a turbulent history. The emphasis on peace was also echoed in the opening ceremony, with keynote addresses highlighting human fraternity, international relations, and pathways toward sustainable futures.

Addressing Global Challenges

Beyond the network’s elections, the Plenary Meeting hosted working groups that focused on pressing global issues and interdisciplinary collaboration:

  • Digital Humanism and Arts in Academia

  • Ocean Sciences and Climate Change

  • Renewable Energy

  • Global Health and Sustainable Food Production

  • Ecological Economics and the Bioeconomy

These sessions underscored the role of universities in providing knowledge, innovation, and international partnerships to tackle today’s complex challenges, from climate change to food security and digital transformation.

Looking Ahead

With an expanded membership and renewed vision, ASEA-UNINET continues to strengthen bridges between Europe and ASEAN. The full programme to the 20th Plenary Meeting of ASEA-UNINET can be accessed

here
. The Meeting Minutes will be made available here by the end of November, 2025. Preparations for the next Plenary Meeting, to take place in Thailand in early 2027, are already underway.