11th ASEAN Youth Forum: ‘Education in the New Decade: Thinking out of the Box’
The Brunei Youth Council in collaboration with the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN) recently launched the 11th ASEAN Youth Forum themed ‘Future Ready in the New Normal’ during the 16th National Youth Day celebration.
75 delegates comprising students, government servants, private sector employees and jobseekers from 10 ASEAN member states are participating in the programme.
Participants discussed skills that needed to be included in the education system, including creativity, innovation skills, digital literacy and inter-cultural engagement, as well as challenges faced by the academic institutions in implementing a balance in soft and hard skills training and teaching in virtual forums and workshops.
Another 100 participants joined as observers.
Legislative Council member and Brunei Youth Council President Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari attended. The forum aimed to formulate ideas and recommendations on how to elevate the role of ASEAN youth in realising sustainable development and ensuring preparedness for future challenges and opportunities in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and in the context of the new normal – post-pandemic.
The first session began with a workshop entitled ‘Education in the New Decade: Thinking out of the Box’. Speakers included Associate Professor at Universiti Brunei Darussalam Dr Chang Yau Hoon, who shared about rethinking methods of learning and how to relearn.
The second speaker, Founder and Co-CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation Michael Brosowski shared his experience working with different disadvantage children (street children, homeless and human trafficked) in Vietnam. He shared how this foundation had helped children recover from the trauma and get back to education system by giving them not only comprehensive education but stressing the importance of giving them unformal skills such as how to handle conflicts, problem solvings, how to work in a team and
leadership skills.
Meanwhile, Special Staff to the President of Indonesia Ayu Kartika Dewi highlighted the importance of understanding critical thinking, identifying symptoms and also mental health.
Virtual breakout sessions were conducted after the forum to enable each delegate to discuss and provide feedback and perspectives on the topic, which was presented to the rest of the delegates at the end of the session.
Two other forums, entitled ‘Employment (Skills and Futures of Jobs)’ and ‘Roles of Youth in Community in Nation/Region-Building’ will be held on August 14 and 21.
The delegates will collaborate to produce an ASEAN Youth Statement and ASEAN Zine, which will be presented to the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Youth (AMMY) at the end of the month.
The ASEAN Youth Forum is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam, ASEAN Secretariat and supported by the ASEAN Youth Forum (Indonesian NGO).
Prepared by Brunei Youth Council
Edited by Borneo Bulletin