Summary of the evaluation study result
1. Outline of the projectCountry: 10 ASEAN nations

Name of the Project: ASEAN University
Network/Southeast
Asia
Engineering
Education
Development
Network(AUN/SEED-Net)

Sector: Higher education

Form of assistance: Technical cooperation
project

Office in charge: Technical Education Amount (at the time of evaluation):Group, Human Development Department ¥2,273,790,000 (including the amount forGroup 2
fiscal 2007)
Related organizations in the recipient nation:
19 member universities in 10 ASEAN
nations
DurationR/D (Thai government): Cooperation organizations in Japan:
March 11, 2003 ~ March 11 universities (Hokkaido University, Tokyo
10, 2008 (5 years)
University, Tokyo Institute of Technology,
National Graduate Institute for Policy
Studies, Toyohashi University of Technology,
Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Keio
University, Waseda University, Shibaura
Institute of Technology, Tokai University)

1-1 Background and overview of cooperation
The Asian economic crisis that started in Thailand in 1997 inflicted an extensive
adverse impact upon ASEAN nations which had been enjoying a high economic growthsince the late 1980s. With this crisis, ASEAN nations began to share the recognition that
it was important to develop human resources in engineering that would support and vitalize
the industrial circle for sustainable and stable economic development. Based on thisrecognition, in 1997 the Hashimoto Initiative was announced to propose assistance forhuman resource development to promote sustainable economic development.
Subsequently, the Obuchi Plan announced in 1999 for developing highly professional
human resources proposed assistance in specifics towards realizing the master plan of an
ASEAN engineering higher education network with the aim of developing humanresources in engineering. As a result of a series of discussions with relevant persons in
ASEAN nations based on this policy by the government of Japan, in April 2001 ASEAN

University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network(AUN/SEED-Net) was established as an independent sub-network in the field ofengineering of ASEAN University Network (AUN), an institute of ASEAN. After two
years’ preparatory period, the project was officially started in March 2003 for the durationof five years.
AUN/SEED-Net is composed of nineteen universities (member
universities) selected from each member nation as its top universities in engineering.
Upon implementing the project, engineering was divided into nine fundamental fields andone member university from advanced nations in ASEAN was designated as the “HostInstitution” in each area, which functioned as the core of accepting students from othercountries in the region and joint researches. On the other hand, the member universities
from less developed nations in ASEAN fulfill their regional roles in participating in
activities such as sending out students for studying abroad and joint researches.
1-2 Content of cooperation(1) Overall goal
Economic sustainability is enhanced through engineering human resource development as
to reinvigorate the industrial sector of ASEAN courtiers(2) Project objective
Educational and research capacities of MIs are improved through the active
exchange of resources among them and the collaborative relationship with JapaneseSupporting University Consortium (JSUC).
(3) Outputs
Faculty qualifications are upgraded through acquisition of graduate degrees Host graduate programs areenhanced Joint activities and human linkage among the Member Institutions are strengthened
Information-dissemination system, activity management system and communication network are established.

(4) Inputs
1) Japan side
・Total project costs:¥2,273,790,000 (after fiscal 2003,after, andincluding the plan for fiscal 2007)
・Dispatch of management experts to the project secretariat (number of posts):
Chief advisor
One person (short-stay commuting-type from the second
expert)Academic advisor
One person (Ditto)
Project coordinator
3 personsProgram officer (locally hired)
7 persons・Dispatch of professors from support universities in Japan:
295 persons/times
・Scholarship awardees: 311 persons for master’s degrees
133 persons for doctorate degrees(the finalized estimate number including students admitted in fiscal 2007)
・Joint research to which grants were awarded:
213 cases (including the plan for fiscal 2007)
・Research to which equipment was provided:
92 cases
2) Member university side
・Establishment of liaison offices and assignment of program coordinators
・Tuition fee exemption for an extension period
・Funding joint researches
3) Thai government
・Facilities:
Expenses for establishing the AUN/SEED-Net Secretariat office at theFaculty of Engineering in Chulalongkorn University and its utilities
Assignment of personnel at the AUN/SEED-Net Secretariat
Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, and two secretaries(The Japan side pays a part of personnel costs.)
2. Outline of the evaluation study teamMemberArea in charge

Name

Organization and study team

LeaderTakao TODA

Director,
Human
Department G2, JICA

Engineering
education

Akizumi
YONEZAWA

Associate Professor, Center for the
Advancement of Higher Education, B
Tohoku University

Cooperation
policyYoshinobu
AZUMA

Administrative Official of Foreign
Affairs, Grant Aid and TechnicalCooperation Department, International
Cooperation Bureau, Ministry ofForeign Affairs

Cooperation
planning

Motoharu
WATANABE

Director, Technical Education, Human C
Development Department G2, JICA

Study plan

Daisuke

Staff member, Technical Education B

Development

Periodof study

UEDA

Team,
Human
Department G2, JICA

Evaluation
analysis 1

Ishii
MAKOTO

Pantel InternationalA

Evaluation
analysis 2

Yuuji
MATSUMOTORECS International

B

Evaluation
analysis 3

Ayako
Interworks, Inc.
MINAMIMURATeam A

Thailand →Vietnam → Laos

Team B

Malaysia → Indonesia → Cambodia

Team C

Myanmar → Singapore → Philippines

May 13 ~ May 31, 2007

Type ofevaluation

Development

Cevaluation:

Final

3. Summary of the evaluation result
3-1 Confirmation of achievements(1) Project objective
As to the project objective “Educational and research capacities of MIs are
improved through the active exchange of resources among them and the collaborative
relationship with Japanese Supporting University Consortium (JSUC).,” we evaluate thatthe initial objective will be attained by the end of the project with varying degrees ofachievement among member universities. Looking at the member universities moreclosely, at the host university we have observed improvements in curricula and teaching
methods, increases in the number of researches and research schemes, and improvements in
the research environment through the provision of research equipment. On the other
hand, at the sending-out university the number of professors with higher academic degrees
has been on the rise, thereby contributing to improvements in the quality of its education
and research capacity. Notwithstanding, there still remain some issues to be addressed oncoming days as to maintaining AUN/SEED-Net without support as a solidly establishedsystem.
(2) Outputs(a) We evaluate that the quality of the teaching staff at the member university has beenenhanced during the period of this project. As of May 2007, they produced 132
graduates with master’s degrees and eight graduates with doctorate degrees. As ofnow, a number of students are still studying: it is estimated to finally produce 444
graduates in total, 132 graduates with master’s degrees and 133 graduates with
doctorate degrees, thereby attaining the project’s numerical target. The post-return
retention rate at university is very high, over 95%, as well. Our interviewees who are
related to the project mention that most member universities have a sense that thequality of their professors has been improved through the project activities.
Admittedly there are differences among member universities. In particular, there arestrong needs for improving the quality of the teaching staff in Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).
(b) All host universities report in their self-evaluation that the quality of both research andeducation has improved in their postgraduate programs. Specifically, they make aspecial mention of the following examples: internationalization of and providing in
English postgraduate programs; improvements in teaching methods; qualitative andquantitative improvements in research activities (increase in the numbers of researches
and theses); increased diligence among postgraduate students; and rise in world
university ranking. Likewise, it is reported as a secondary effect that students’communication skills have improved through accepting students from other nations.
In addition, the questionnaire survey conducted to Japanese supporting universities
reveals that 90% of the teaching staff of such universities feels that the postgraduate
programs of host universities have improved in comparison to the time before theproject.
(c) We judge that the project has laid and solidified the foundation for the networks among
universities. Prior to the project, there was almost no connection among universities
in ASEAN nations. New human and institutional networks have been built andstrengthened through study-abroad within the region, joint researches (168 themes),
seminars by field (76 seminars, 1,206 persons), and dispatch of teaching staff fromJapanese supporting universities (295 persons). Relations with Japanese supporting
universities have been deepened as well through joint researches, dispatch ofprofessors, and studying and training in Japan. Such human networks have just gotten
under way in forming their foundation. It will be necessary to make efforts to develop
them as financially, organizationally and systemically long-standing networks. At thesame time, considerations will be needed to secure the benefits of sending-out
universities in activities other than study-abroad.

(d) We evaluate that the management system of AUN/SEED-Net has been built. In its
management, trials and errors have been repeated at the initial stage of the project due
to the geographical immensity, a great number of persons involved, and diversity andinclusiveness of activities. At present, the persons concerned evaluate highly that all
activities are very smoothly carried out. In monitoring activities, active measures
have been effectively taken through visits to member universities by the members of
the AUN/SEED-Net Secretariat and the steering committee.
In information
dissemination as well, active efforts have been made such as distribution of newsletters(quarterly), websites (more than 210,000 accesses in total since opening in March
2005), and a mailing list (676 persons). Thus, it is believed that the foundation of
AUN/SEED-Net management system has been firmly established. What is required in
the future will be that each member university builds a mechanism to maintain anddevelop the system of AUN/SEED-Net without support.
In particular the
AUN/SEED-Net Secretariat still depends largely on dispatched Japanese experts. It is
important to explore such remedial measures as gradually transferring the functions
fulfilled by the Secretariat to the member universities.
3-2 Evaluation result in light of the five evaluation criteria(1) RelevanceThe project’s relevance is high based on the following points:
The policies of ASEAN nations are variable indeed, but human resource
development is one of the priority issues in all nations. They typically specify theinternationalization of higher education and increases in the number of people inengineering as major issues. Thus, each nation recognizes the importance of developing
human resources in engineering for its industrial promotion and economic development.
Hence, this project has relevance to the governments’ education policies of ASEAN
nations.
Viewed from the needs of member universities, they had not been successful inproducing qualified people in terms of quality and number who satisfied social needs.
Hence, it was necessary to improve the quality of education and research, to increase thesize of teaching staff with high academic credentials, and to upgrade the quality of research
activities. Under such circumstance, some universities, particularly universities in moreadvanced ASEAN nations, spelled out the policy to raise the quality of education tointernational levels or the policy of internationalization. Thus, the project’s content toimprove the quality of education and research and build a network among universities
within the region and with universities in Japan met the needs of the member universities.

The project is also in accord with the Japanese government’s policy that attaches
further importance to Asia based on close interdependent economic and social relationships
with ASEAN nations. The ODA Charter avows the policies that Japan will further
strengthen relationships with ASEAN nations and rectify regional disparities with ODA.
At the same time, Japan’s science and technology promotion policy spells out the principle
to strengthen a partnership with Asia including ASEAN nations. This project adopts thescheme in which the host universities in more advanced ASEAN nations accept students
from sending-out universities mostly in newcomer ASEAN nations and grant them withhigh academic degrees. This lies at the root of strengthening relationships and rectifying
disparities within the region of ASEAN and also has relevance to the policy of enhancing
South-South cooperation.
This project’s objective is not only to develop human resources but also to build
human networks among people in engineering in ASEAN nations, thereby establishing aframework for human resource development in the whole ASEAN region. Thus, theproject was relevant as a multilateral regional project. Particularly, human networks are
between students abroad and their supervisor professors as well as among students abroad,but the scheme takes into account a natural expansion of networks through human chains.
We conclude that it was appropriate to implement the project as a multilateral regional
project involving multiple countries.
(2) Effectiveness
It is believed that, by the end of the project, the education and research capacity ofmember universities will be improved through active exchanges among member
universities and collaborative relationships among domestic support universities, as a resultof the project’s implementation. Nonetheless, there still remain some challenges which
need to be addressed. They are, for instance, further improvements in education andresearch capacity of the member universities in CLMV, utilization of human resources
developed in phase 1, and sharing of resources. To put it another way, the project formed
the foundation of the AUN/SEED-Net framework, and it is essential to build a system inwhich each member university will be able to develop a self-sustainable framework.
The outputs set for the project brought about an effective approach to achieve theproject’s objective. For instance, there is a university among member universities that has
taken an action to conclude the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an overseas
university and promotes a study-abroad program, joint researches, and invitation of
professors from overseas countries. Likewise, the governments of Thailand and Indonesia
erected a scholarship system for sending teachers from a non-member university to its

SEED-Net member university with the aim of building up the capacity of the teaching staffof the former. Thus, the member universities and the government of each country havebeen taking actions besides the project activities.
Furthermore, 53% of those who have been conferred academic degrees work as
members of the teaching staff and also the remaining 37%, those who continue theirdoctorate programs after having acquired master’s degrees will in all likelihood work in theteaching staff after they have obtained doctorate degrees. Thus, the retention rate will behigh after their return.
(3) Efficiency
We evaluate that the project’s efficiency was high in general. The time, quantityand quality of inputs were appropriate in general. However, there was a case in which theprocurement of equipment lagged behind, whereby the progress of a research was delayed
and an opinion was heard to improve the efficiency of the procurement system. In the
project’s management, according to the Cooperative Framework agreed in April 2001 that
stipulates the framework of AUN/SEED-Net and its management system, a steeringcommittee meeting was held whenever an occasion called for. The AUN/SEED-Net
Secretariat was established in Thailand. The Secretariat hired local staff members tomake up for the administrative and managerial capacity of the project, which led toefficient management of the project. The level of each member university’s commitment
is very high in general, and their interest has been mounting as the project progresses.
Thus, we have detected no problems. This project was a wide-region project, andefficient management by the Secretariat and the assignment of experienced coordinators by
the university side raised the efficiency of this project.
(4) Impact
The overall goal “economic sustainability is enhanced through engineering humanresource development as to reinvigorate the industrial sector of ASEAN courtiers ” is a very
ambitious one, and it is too early to judge the probability of achieving the goal. Many
factors will be involved in achieving this overall goal in the future. With respect to theindicators of the overall goal, “an increased number of joint researches among member
university, Japanese supporting university and private enterprise” and “an increase in thenumber of exchange activities such as MOU between member university and Japanesesupporting university,” there is already a member university that is pushing forward similar
activities. Thus, there is a visible impact as a result of the project.
Besides the above, we have confirmed an extensive ripple effect; contribution tolaying the foundation for ASEAN integration by enhancing mutual understanding and trust
among ASEAN nations, measures to address interdisciplinary and regional emergency
issues, vitalization of research activities and university management at member
universities, voluntary collaboration outside the project framework, and partnerships with
non-member universities in each nation.
(5) Self-sustainability
We evaluate that the self-sustainability of the project is somewhat weak.
We consider that policy sustainability will be maintained because support to thepolicy in each nation has been confirmed through our interviews with the ministry/agency
in charge of higher education and the management of universities.
As to institutional sustainability, we judge that this project has formed thefoundation of the AUN/SEED-Net framework, but in order for each university to maintainthe system and develop its functions, support will be still needed. In the future, thefunctions performed by the Secretariat should be transferred to universities so that they will
be able to manage AUN/SEED-Net.
With regard to technological sustainability, this project has paved the way fordeveloping human resources that will contribute to improvements in the quality ofeducation and researches through the development of human resources in engineering.
However, the member university has not yet reached the level to the extent to which it isable to upgrade the quality of education and research without support after the end of the
project: ideas and assistance by Japanese experts will be needed. As to human networks,
this project laid their foundation, and the networks have begun to function. In order todevelop them as long-standing ones, further measures will be required. To that end,
knowledge and experience of Japanese supporting universities and support by Japaneseexperts will be essential.
Finance-wise, the cost sharing amount has been gradually increasing since the startof the project together with the diversification of its content. Myanmar, for example, is anation that finds it difficult to share the cost. However, many member universities havecommitted themselves to sharing costs including scholarships and partial travel expenses.
Thus, the commitment has been secured to sharing costs, but without JICA’s assistance, itwill be difficult to maintain the same level of activities as now. In particular, funding is animperative factor to sustain the project’s activities, and in the future some action should betaken to promote the use of overseas fund sources such as the acquisition of competitive
research funds and assistance from various funds related to ASEAN. Or, it may benecessary to adopt some ideas such as building a cost-effective framework forAUN/SEED-Net from the standpoint of “selection and concentration.”
3-3 Factors contributing to the achievement of outputs
Such factors include; the management of member universities understood theeffect of, actively participated in and promoted the project; cooperation and commitment ofJapanese support universities; and great management capacity of the AUN/SEED-Net
Secretariat.
During the preparatory period of two years preceding the project’s five-year
duration and the first year of its implementation, the persons concerned could notunderstand the effects of the project and the member universities did not eagerly participate
in the project. As the project activities got on the right track, their effects began to berealized, which, in turn, vitalized the activities. In the backdrop of vitalized activities
there was obviously an effort to draw out the initiative from member universities, forinstance, to formulate a strategic paper each for nine areas of the backbone engineering.
3-4 Conclusions
3-4-1 Significance of AUN/SEED-Net
The AUN/SEED-Net project was an unprecedented effort in that it developed
human resources in engineering that will support sustainable economic and social
development in the ASEAN region through collaborative activities among universities
within the ASEAN region and the construction of networks to enhance collaboration
between universities in ASEAN and universities in Japan. At the initial stage of the
project, people were faced with many problems caused by the complexity of thisunprecedented project and its regional and budgetary size. Currently, each program ismanaged very smoothly, thereby resulting in producing effects in developing humanresources and improving education and research capacity of the member universities. As
a result, the governments of the nations and universities in the region evaluate the project
very highly in general and repeatedly expressed their strong request to continue Japan’s
cooperation to this project. Based on such high evaluation from the persons concerned,
information was inclusively collected and analyzed for the evaluation at the end of project.
The result demonstrates an extremely high significance of the project. Hence, we canreasonably conclude that continual cooperation will be relevant in order to further develop
human resources in engineering that contribute to sustainable economic and social
development in the ASEAN region, founded upon the outputs of the past cooperation.
3-4-2 Result of evaluation

All the member universities appraise, with varying degrees of achievement, that
their education and research capacity have been improved. Hence, the project objective“Educational and research capacities of MIs are improved through the active exchange ofresources among them and the collaborative relationship with Japanese Supporting
University Consortium (JSUC).,” will be evidently achieved in general. The outputs ofthe project have been attained as well. There still remain some issues: the level ofachievement is variable among member universities; concerning 1) the quality of theteaching staff will be improved and 2) the postgraduate program will be improved in thehost university, there are still needs; and concerning 3) building and solidifying networks
among member universities and 4) management system of AUN/SEED-Net, the issue of
securing self-sustainability poses a challenge.
In the evaluation by the five criteria, relevance, effectiveness and efficiency arehigh and various ripple effects are confirmed. On the other hand, the issue ofself-sustainability is weak in terms of system, technology and funding. Thus, we see thenecessity of tackling with these issues.
3-4-3 Issues towards further development
The initial objective and outputs of this project have been attained in general. In
addition to the needs for further development of human resources in CLMV, it is necessary
to further strengthen or upgrade the system, technology and funding as to theself-sustainability of the framework and activities of AUN/SEED-Net. Hence, continual
assistance will be necessary. It is expected that the implementation of phase 2 will enable
to develop AUN/SEED-Net, based on the foundation laid in phase 1, into a self-sustainable
framework for the development of human resources in engineering in the ASEAN region
and at the same time generate a greater ripple effect to non-member universities, theindustrial circle, and community as well as member universities.
3-5 Recommendations
3-5-1 Issues to be addressed during the remaining cooperation period(1) Improvement of evaluation and recognition of AUN/SEED-Net
To secure the self-sustainability and social impact of AUN/SEED-Net, it isessential to raise evaluation and recognition of AUN/SEED-Net among relevant
governments (the governments of ASEAN nations and Japan), universities/research
institutes and the industrial circle. To that end, all parties related to AUN/SEED-Net
including the member universities, the governments of member nations, AUN/SEED-Net
Secretariat and JICA need to carry out public relations activities as to the significance andeffects of AUN/SEED-Net by maximally utilizing every available opportunity. As thefirst step, one idea is to organize a meeting to create an opportunity to share theachievements of AUN/SEED-Net with delegates representing relevant ministries andagencies in all member nations so that the governments of the member nations willcorrectly and accurately appreciate the effects of AUN/SEED-Net.
3-5-2 Recommendations for Phase 2(1) Improvement of self-sustainability (financial, institutional, systemic and technical)(a) It is necessary to transfer the project’s funding source from JICA to other sources.
That is, the member nations and universities share its costs and/or the use of external
resources should be explored. Funding capability varies with the member nation anduniversity. Hence, the cost sharing amount must be decided depending on thesituation of each country and university instead of demanding the same amount of cost
sharing. On the other hand, it is a must that the project costs be shared among thegovernments of member nations and member universities, but it will be difficult tomaintain a current level of activities of AUN/SEED-Net without getting funds fromexternal sources. Efforts must be made to secure external resources such ascompetitive funds and the ASEAN Fund. It will be also important to modify theframework into a more cost-effective system/structure than the present one throughselection and concentration and/or reforms in the project’s management method.
(b) Institutional and systemic self-sustainability
At present, almost all functions of the Secretariat are concentrated in the
AUN/SEED-Net Secretariat office situated at Chulalongkorn University. To improvethe efficiency of management and self-sustainability of AUN/SEED-Net, it isrecommended that some of the SUN/SEED-Net Secretariat’s functions, if possible, betransferred to member universities.
(c) Technical self-sustainability
Under this project human networks have been formed among related universities andproduced effects. In order to make the networks sustainable, knowledge, experience,and know-how need to be transferred from Japan.
(2) Increases in the number of dispatch of teaching staff from Japanese supporting
universities and prolongation of dispatch period
Both host universities and sending-out universities requested that the number ofteaching staff to be dispatched from Japanese supporting universities be increased andthe dispatch period be prolonged for upgrading the quality of joint researches and jointsupervision of students abroad. Particularly, the sending-out universities have only alimited number of opportunities to receive teaching staff members from Japanesesupporting universities. An objective of phase 2 is to open graduate schools andimprove the research capacity of universities in CLMV countries. Hence, in light ofthis plan, the above issue needs to be examined in phase 2. As to the dispatch ofteaching staff from Japanese supporting universities, the following possibility may be
explored: promoting the participation of younger staff (associate professors, lecturers,
and assistant professors) and post-doctorate fellows, utilization of JICA-Net, videoconferences using PC (Skype, etc.), and dispatch of professors retired from Japanese
universities (it will be better if they are from domestic support universities from theviewpoint of building and strengthening systematic networks) as overseas senior
volunteers.
(3) Support to the research conducted by returnee students (teaching staff) of
AUN/SEED-Net
The CLMV countries suffer from a serious want of research expenditure and equipment
necessary for researches. It is planned in phase 2 to provide assistance to the member
universities in Cambodia and Laos that have a plan to open courses for master’s
degrees. The assistance includes the dispatch of teaching staff from Japanesesupporting universities and other member universities and short-term training within
the region and in Japan. Through such activities, it will be possible to address thisissue. Some efforts should be made such as providing the equipment in disuse atdomestic support universities and other member universities (National University ofSingapore/Nanyang Technological University, etc.) to other member universities andsecure research expenses by obtaining and utilizing competitive research funds outside
the framework of AUN/SEED-Net (for instance, Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science and the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology,etc.). This is an issue that should be promoted also from the viewpoint oflong-standing self-sustainability of the AUN/SEED-Net framework.
(4) Problem of limitation to the duration of a Sandwich PhD Program
Some host universities expressed the opinion that it was difficult to limit the duration ofa doctoral program to three years viewed from the time required for deciding a research
theme and schedule adjustment of external examiners who would appraise the thesis.
This problem was discussed in the Tenth Steering Committee Meeting (in Manila) andthe member universities came to agreement that, in principle, the duration should be set

for three years, but if the time got longer than three years, a host university would pay
the tuition fees during the extension period. In the future, it is recommended to review
this issue based on the analysis of actual situation.
(5) Continuous connection with the host university when going on to a doctoral program in
Japan
First of all, it is essential both for students and for teaching staff to make efforts to keep
in touch even after advancing to a doctoral course in Japan. Specific ways of keeping
communication will be the participation of a student who studies PhD in Japan in a
SEED-Net field-wise seminar (once during the period of study abroad), use of theopportunity to make a short-term visit to Japan by the former supervisor of a host
university, and participation in joint researches conducted by the host university one
graduated from.
(6) Selection of themes for joint researches
Sending-out universities (Institute of Technology of Cambodia and Hanoi University ofTechnology) expressed an opinion that the themes of joint researches did notnecessarily meet their needs. On the other hand, host universities claimed thatinvolvement in and commitment to joint researches were not very strong among
sending-out universities. Thus, the theme-setting of joint researches poses a problem.
It is difficult to have perfect matching, but actions should be taken to select themes ofjoint researches that are commonly shared by the persons concerned by improving
communication among relevant persons through a seminar by area and by the programs
among member universities and of short-term visits to Japan. In particular, it isrecommended that the needs/requests of sending-out universities be met as much aspracticable in joint researches.
(7) Redefinition of the purpose and function of the field-wise seminar
The building of human networks among the member universities, which was one of themain purposes of the field-wise seminar, was achieved. Thus, it is necessary to
re-define the purposes and proper frequency suited for each area of study.
(8) Response to the desire to become a host university
Sending-out universities and their countries such as Ho Chi Minh City University ofTechnology, Hanoi University of Technology and Bandung Institute of Technology
express their desire that they want to participate in AUN/Seed-Net not only assending-out universities but also host universities. It is anticipated that phase 2 will
enable them to partly perform the functions of the host university through its joint
postgraduate program.
(9) Confines of study-abroad within the region and in Japan
There is a strong need for study-abroad within the region and in Japan, particularly in
the CLMV nations. On the other hand, limitations are imposed on the number of such
students. As a result, there are cases in which a sending-out university is not able tosend out its students for studying abroad despite its request, thereby affecting its humanresource development planning. JICA will not be able to expand the scope of its
present program for overseas students. Therefore, this issue needs to be addressed byincreasing the amounts of cost sharing by host universities and sending-out universities
and/or by promoting partnerships with external resources (ASEAN Fund andstudy-abroad with government scholarships)..
(10)
Request for the expansion of member universities
The governments of Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have requested to expand
member universities to their other domestic universities. The primary purpose of
AUN/SEED-Net lies in strengthening the top universities, thereby aiming at producing
a ripple effect to other domestic universities. It is expected that the government ofeach country will make some arrangement (as an example: domestic study-exchangesystem) to bring about a ripple effect through a partnership between member
universities and domestic universities.
(11)
Decentralization of the Secretariat’s functions
It is recommended from the viewpoint of self-sustainability that the Secretariat transfers
its functions, starting from those that can be handled by university (including holding aseminar by area, arrangement of travels for students studying abroad within the region,and the first screening of a financial report of the member university, etc.), to themember universities while discerning the situation of each university.
(12)
Necessity of public relations activities on the merits of AUN/SEED-Net incomparison to other scholarship systems
In order to get bright students, it will be necessary to carry out public relations activities
to sending-out universities, whenever there is an occasion, as to the significance ofstudy-abroad within the ASEAN region and the advantages of the AUS/SEED-Net’s

programs in comparison to studying in America and Europe.