The ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat participated in the 15th Meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Committee on Science and Technology (AJCCST-15), held on 24 June 2026 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, as part of the 22nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-22). Hosted by the Government of Lao PDR, the meeting gathered representatives across ASEAN region, ASEAN+3 Unet, the ASEAN Secretariat, and key regional science, technology and innovation (STI) organisations to review the progress and accomplishments of ASEAN-Japan cooperation in science, technology and innovation, and explore future collaborative priorities.

Marking its 523rd and 524th, and rounds, AUN-QA successfully conducted Programme Assessments at Lac Hong University and Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, assessing a total of 7 Bachelor’s programmes. Each assessment represents another step towards harmonising the culture of quality assurance and continuous improvement across ASEAN higher education, and ensures the programmes delivered are relevant and speaks to the evolving needs of the global landscape. Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy’s return for its second programme assessment reflects its deepening and expanding engagement with quality assurance practices while Lac Hong University’s 6th round highlights its sustained and unwavering dedication to maintaining and advancing quality assurance practices across its study programmes.

On 2 July 2026, the 1st AUN Qualifications Excellence (AUN-QEx) Workshop in Malaysia was successfully conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), hosting 6 AUN-QEx alumni from Malaysian higher education institutions, and 5 volunteer rapporteurs to hold discussions and exchange knowledge which reflect on institutional implementation of AUN-QEx. The workshop featured knowledge and experience sharing sessions, along with roundtable discussions that underscore the essence of collaboration that in turn enhances the understanding of AUN-QEx principles and mechanisms, and explores synergies with the Malaysian Qualifications Frameworks (MQF). Knowledge sharing not only builds on ideas and perspectives that enhance the AUN-QEx framework, but also promotes stronger collaboration within the AUN-QEx community in Malaysia, and actively contributes towards greater regional efforts in achieving qualifications excellence in ASEAN higher education.

As rapid technological developments and digitalisation sweeps the way higher education institutions approach learning and quality management, the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and Obreal seamlessly conducted the first part of the joint webinar series titled “Digitalisation of Quality Management,” on 25 June 2026. By assembling a diverse panel representing ASEAN, East Africa, and Latin America, the webinar showcased the effects of digitalisation on how education institutions, and quality assurance accreditation agencies conduct and approach QA practices in various regional contexts. This was translated into an expansive turnout, with 116 participants attending from all regions of the world including 9 countries from ASEAN and Asia; 21 countries from Africa, 7 countries from Europe, and 4 countries from North, Central, and South America. The session sets up important discourse on the need for more consistent and unified dialogue in quality assurance management, including regional data harmonisation, digitalisation in external quality assurance (EQA), institutional QA systems, internal quality assurance (IQA), along with data and governance factors that can be leveraged interregionally.

The ASEAN University Network-Digital Transformation (AUN Dx) Thematic Network convened its 2nd Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the AUN Dx Pilot Assessment at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from 22 - 26 June 2026. Hosted at UBD, the meeting brought together AUN Dx Executive Board, AUN Dx Standard Committee, AUN Dx AI Governance Committee, and leading experts representing the digital management and ICT departments across ASEAN universities for a thoughtful exchange of knowledge, experiences, and expertise to advance regional cooperation on ICT management, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence (AI) governance in higher education. The meeting was an opportunity for UBD to showcase its digital transformation initiatives such as the establishment of Brunei’s first university-wide Policy and Guidelines on Generative AI and AI disclosure requirements for its academic journals. It also featured productive parallel working sessions which invited participants to consolidate ideas for the refinement of the draft AUN Dx Framework Version 2.0 and review the progress of the AUN Dx AI Governance and Ethics Framework Version 1.0.

The AUN-QA has wrapped up two more Programme Assessments with its 520th and 521st round at FEU Institute of Technology and University of the Philippines, this time assessing a wide variety of programmes in science. AUN-QA remains committed to ensuring that the practice of continuous improvement and quality enhancement is embedded across all disciplines in the higher education institutions. These programme assessments add to the expansive track record of engagement between AUN-QA and the Philippines’ higher education sector.

As the Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Coordination Project continues to evolve and achieve significant milestones over the past year, the AUN Secretariat has launched a dedicated article series inviting readers to revisit its journey from its official launch to the vibrant community of passionate scholars across ASEAN and Japan it has formed. After exploring the project through the lens of networking and capacity-building in the previous articles, this last piece delves into its strategic support in research through the Seed-Funding Program. Through this programme, selected researchers are supported in developing their early-stage networks for enhancing long-term interdisciplinary collaboration with various stakeholders, promoting real-world impact and sustainable development between ASEAN and Japan. In 2025, the programme awarded seed funding to 18 JASTIC Fellows from across ASEAN, followed by 17 Fellows in 2026. Each fellow brought unique and subject-specific perspectives as well as thoughtfully-developed project proposals aimed at addressing key areas in sustainable development.

The MU-AUN Summer Camp was successfully conducted from 4 - 13 June 2026 under the central theme “SDGs Global Camp 2026: Co-creating Inclusive and Sustainable Future.” Hosted by Mahidol University in co-collaboration with Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Kasetsart University (KU), and University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), the programme successfully brought together 70 students to foster a deeper and more diverse understanding of sustainable development through informative and immersive sessions and excursions on cultural heritage, and ecological conservation as a catalyst in adopting sustainable business practices. In tandem with local wisdom and practices and community practices, the programme leveraged intercultural exchanges with their peers as a form of empowerment through knowledge exchanges in addition to friendship building, serving as a small but powerful step as part of the bigger picture at hand which pushes towards achieving UNSDGs.

As the Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Coordination project continues to evolve and achieve significant milestones over the past year, the AUN Secretariat has launched a dedicated article series inviting readers to revisit its journey from its official launch to the vibrant community of passionate scholars across ASEAN and Japan it has formed. This piece explores the theme of “capacity-building” which highlights the two rounds of the Training Workshop for the Next Generation of STI Leaders held in Bangkok, Thailand, and the Short-Term Internship Programme held in Kyoto, Japan. Together, these initiatives go beyond acquiring technical knowledge and delves into cultivating skills such as research coordination, leadership, and strategic communication.