SEAMEO-The University of Tsukuba Symposium IX (Virtual)
Theme: Resilience for Global Citizenship
Sub-Theme: Challenges in Education under COVID-19
11 February 2021

CONCEPT NOTEI.

Background‘Global citizenship education has an important role to play in ensuring that theworld that emerges from the COVID-19 crisis is safe, fair and inclusive’ - Christiana
Nikolitsa-Winter (2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented changes. The pandemic has affected
all areas of life including the suspension of schooling and the migration to online and virtual
platforms. At present, 1.7 Billion learners all over the world have been impacted by school
closures, and remote learning has been a lifeline for learning (UNESCO, 2020).
The world sheds tear as COVID-19 takes the lives of loved ones. People of all races andethnicities shared fears about being infected with COVID-19. Leaders of different nations in
the world, from the wealthiest to the poorest, exhibited the same concern, whatever their raceor ethnicity, as they try to reassure their citizens that “We shall overcome!”. The united standto combat COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a form of global citizenship, albeit shown throughthe challenging circumstances.
COVID-19 pandemic has functioned as a force of equity that brings men and women ofdifferent status, experience, national origin, language, and culture to the same basic
commonality of the desire to survive.
As the pandemic is still on-going and has created such a “New Normal” ways of life, there is
one source of light in the gloom of economic lockdown and self-isolation that we witnessedthat includes the positive action of communities and citizens, the expressions of support for
critical workers, including medical professionals, and the spontaneous demonstration of social
solidarity, particularly with the most vulnerable.

1Such actions, whether intended to protect, support, comfort or overcome exclusion, show thedifference that responsible, ethical citizenship can make. Even though these gestures will not
immunize anyone against the virus, however they make individuals and communities stronger
and more resilient.
Undeniably, the advent of COVID-19 makes Global Citizenship Education (GCED) more
important and relevant. The global pandemic has indeed further raised the need for strong
and resilience Global Citizenship. Crises such as COVID-19 often result in far-reaching socialand economic changes. At the regional level, one of the responses that SEAMEO has initiatedduring the pandemic was to convene the First SEAMEO Ministerial Policy e-Forum (SMPeF)
on COVID-19 Response last 18 June 2020. SMPeF shared the policies and responses of theMinistries of Education in Southeast Asia to the pandemic to ensure that no learners in theregion are left behind. During the SMPeF, the Ministers have put forward the commitment
through the Joint Statement, and one of the commitments is to be united in the fight ofpandemic and appreciate the efforts of stakeholders in education sectors to innovate andevolve in the unprecedented time (SEAMEO Secretariat, 2020a). The Ministers of Education
further recommended the SEAMEO Secretariat and the SEAMEO Centres and Network tosustain the achievements gained in the fight against COVID-19 disruption to improve learning
outcomes (SEAMEO Secretariat, 2020b). This commitment has shown SEAMEO Member
countries as responsible global citizens.
In response to this current challenging situation, SEAMEO Secretariat in collaboration with theUniversity of Tsukuba and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology (MEXT) Japan will convene the 9th SEAMEO-The University of Tsukuba
Symposium which will be held virtually on 11 February 2021. Under the theme ‘Resilience for
Global Citizenship’, the Symposium will provide a platform for experts, policy makers,educators, and other stakeholders to share best practices and discuss on how we as global
citizens respond to the challenges in education posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
II.

Objectives

This symposium aims to (1) Provide a platform to showcase the Best Practices of education
responses to the pandemic and school closures in the region; (2) Identify opportunities andchallenges faced by schools in SEA during the pandemic period; (3) Consolidate the policychanges and ways forward for “New Normal” in education; and (4) Identify ways to address
the needs of disadvantaged students learning through remote education.
Under the sub-theme ‘Challenges in Education under COVID-19,’ this symposium intends
to cover issues surrounding but not limited to:2

1. GCED concept development: Before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Best Practices of alternative teaching methods/modules in educational institutions,both Basic Education and Higher Education during and after COVID-19 pandemic.
3. The scalability of national response and existing solutions at the regional level that
may help contribute to the post-COVID-19 plans of actions and agenda.
4. The policies, tools, and strategies that could be suggested to policymakers toimprove youth situation in the New Normal way of life.
5. The contribution of education stakeholders in shaping the future of cultural learningand practices in Southeast Asia and beyond post COVID-19.
We cordially invite education experts, policy makers, educators, researchers, and otherstakeholders to submit their abstract and full paper for the symposium. Selected full paper
presentations will be published in SEAMEO Journal 2021 (June issue).
III.

Symposium Mechanics

This symposium will be done in three parts. The first part will feature the Keynote speeches
who shall provide an overview on concept development of Global Citizenship andsignificant role of Global Citizenship during the pandemic. The next part will feature aroundtable discussion in response to the Symposium’s theme to provide a big picture how
resilient we are as GC in respond to the current situation. After roundtable discussion
there will be 5 panel presentations best practices on how we as resilient GCs work together
to respond to COVID-19 pandemic. Each presenter shall share their experiences or bestpractices in overcome the challenges during the pandemic to ensure learning continuity.
All speakers shall submit an abstract of their presentation and the PPT or other media to theorganising committee on or before 31 January 2021. Please refer to the Application Form.
Each keynote speakers will have 15 minutes to deliver their presentations, while otherspeakers at roundtable discussion and panel presentation will be allocated 7 to 8 minutes perpresenter.
IV.

Contact Persons: Management Organisation, Host, and Session Organisers
A. SEAMEO Secretariat
Dr Wahyudi
Deputy Director for Programme and Development
SEAMEO Secretariat
Bangkok, Thailand
Email: wahyudi@seameo.org; chanika@seameo.org

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Ms Anti Rismayanti
Programme Officer III (Information and Development)
SEAMEO Secretariat
Bangkok, Thailand
Email: anti@seameo.org
B. CRICED, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Prof Dr Masami IsodaDirectorCentre for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development(CRICED)The University of Tsukuba
Ibaraki, Japan
Email: isoda@criced.tsukuba.ac.jp
Contact Person: Ms Yukari Kobayashi, email: criced@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
V.

Administrative Support

The Symposium will be conducted based on a cost-sharing basis among the SEAMEO
Secretariat, the University of Tsukuba and SEAMEO Centres as follows:•SEAMEO Secretariat contributes provides support for the organisation of theSymposium and provides the online platform and post-symposium activities suchjournal publication.

•SEAMEO Centres provides expertise as speakers and disseminate the output of theinformation of the Symposium to their network.

•The University of Tsukuba will provide the financial support for the symposium andjournal publication.

VI.

Certificate

The e-certificate will be provided and generated by the SEAMEO Secretariat as follows:•“Certificate of Appreciation” will be provided to the speakers and panelists.

•“Certificate of Participation” will be provided to all participants who attend theSymposium and complete the Certificate Validation and Assessment Form.

VIII. Timeline
1. Invitation letter to SEAMEO Centres/Network andPartners to participate and to submit the abstract.

Schedule
11 January 2021

2. Deadline for SEAMEO Centres and Partners to submit
the abstract

31 January 2021

3. Compilation of abstract

1-5 February 2021
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Schedule
10 January 2021

4. Announcement of the symposium in the Website
5. Announcement for participants to register for thesymposium

IX.

1 February 2021

6. Dry run for speakers and panelists

9 &10 February 2021

7. Symposium

11-12 February 2021

8. Certification

March 2021

9. Deadline of full paper submission for publication inSEAMEO Journal 2021 (June)

31 March 2021

References

UNESCO. (2020, June). Education: From disruption to recovery. Retrieved August 15, 2020,
https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse
Nikolitsa-Winter, C. (2020). COVID-19: From global crisis to global citizenship. Retrieved 28
December 2020 from https://thelifelonglearningblog.uil.unesco.org/2020/04/08/covid-19-fromglobal-crisis-to-global-citizenship/
SEAMEO Secretariat. (2020, June 18). SEAMEO Ministerial Policy e-Forum on COVID-19
Response [Video]. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6V_GNN1UQ4&feature=youtu.be5

AnnexSEAMEO-The University of Tsukuba Symposium IX (Virtual)
Theme: Resilience for Global Citizenship
Sub-Theme: Challenges in Education under COVID-19
11 February 2021

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME
Thai Standard Time (GMT+7)
As of 9 January 2021

Thursday, 11 February 2021
0830-0900 hrs

Registration and Log in

0900-1000 hrs

I.

Opening Ceremony

A.

SEAMEO Colours and SEAMEO Song

B.

Opening Remark by H E Dr Radzi Jidin
Senior Minister of Education, Malaysia and SEAMEO Council President
Welcome Remarks by Dr Benton Caroline Fern
Vice President, The University of Tsukuba
Welcome Remarks by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology-Japan (MEXT)
Opening Message by Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-ValenzuelaDirector, SEAMEO Secretariat
Keynote Speech: ‘Resilience for Global Citizenship’
Dr Ida Yoshiyasu, Chair, Doctoral Program in School Education,
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, The University ofTsukuba
Official Photo Session

C.
D.
E.
F.

G.
1000-1005 hrs
1005-1105 hrs

Healthy BreakII.

Roundtable Discussion: Resilience for Global CitizenshipPanelists:•••••

Dr Chantavit Sujatanond, Centre Director, SEAMEO RIHED (TBC)
Mr Sukich Udindu, Centre Director, SEAMEO SEPS (TBC)
Dr Ramon C Bacani, Centre Director, SEAMEO INNOTECH (TBC)
Dr Alpha Amirrachman, Centre Director, SEAMEO SEAMOLEC(TBC)
University of Tsukuba (TBC)

Moderator: Prof Dr Nakao Nomura, Regional Director of South East Asia
and Taiwan Offices, Global Common Office, The University of Tsukuba

61105-1205 hrs

III.

Global Citizenship Resiliency in Response to COVID-19 (I)Panel Presentation:•••••

Dr Glenn B Gregorio, Centre Director, SEAMEO SEARCA
Dr Zulhamsyah Imran, Centre Director, SEAMEO BIOTROPMr Alias Abu Bakar, Centre Director, SEAMEO VOCTECHDr Pornpun Waitayangkoon, Centre Director, SEAMEO STEM-ED
University of Tsukuba

Moderator: Dr Wahyudi, Deputy Director for Programme andDevelopment, SEAMEO Secretariat
1205-1300 hrs
1300-1405 hrs

LunchIV.

Global Citizenship Resiliency in Response to COVID-19 (II)Panel Presentation:•••••

Dr Shah Jahan bin Assanarkutty, Centre Director, SEAMEORECSAMDr Indrawati, Centre Director, SEAMEO QITEP in Science
Dr Sumardyono, Centre Director, SEAMEO QITEP in Mathematics
Dr Songheang Ai, Centre Director, SEAMEO TED
University of Tsukuba

Moderator: Dr Kritsachai Somsaman, Deputy Director for Administration
and Communication, SEAMEO Secretariat1405-1505 hrsV.

Global Citizenship Resiliency in Response to COVID-19 (III)Panel Presentation:•••••

Assoc Prof Dr Pratap Singhasivanon, SecretaryGeneral/Coordinator, SEAMEO TROPMED Network
Dr Muchtaruddin Mansyur, Centre Director, SEAMEO RECFONCentre Director, SEAMEO SEN
Dr Dwi Priyono, Centre Director, SEAMEO CECCEP
University of Tsukuba

Moderator: Ms Anti Rismayanti, Programme Officer III (Information andDevelopment), SEAMEO Secretariat
1505-1510
1510-1610 hrs

Healthy BreakVI.

Global Citizenship Resiliency in Response to COVID-19 (IV)
Panel Presentation:•••••Ms Susan Leong, Centre Director, SEAMEO RELCDr Luh Anik Mayani, Centre Director, SEAMEO QITEP inLanguage
Mrs Somlak Charoenpot, Centre Director, SEAMEO SPAFADr Khin Lay Soe, Centre Director, SEAMEO CHAT
University of Tsukuba

Moderator: Mr Raphael Orenday Cada, Programme Officer I (Policy andDevelopment), SEAMEO Secretariat

71610-1710 hrs

VII. Global Citizenship Resiliency in Response to COVID-19 (V)Panel Presentation:••••

Dr Ho Thanh My Phuong, Centre Director, SEAMEO RETRAC
Assoc Prof Dr Niane Sivongxay, Centre Director, SEAMEO CED
Dr Ho Thanh My Phuong, Acting Centre Director, SEAMEOCELLL
University of Tsukuba

Moderator: Dr Orawan Sriboonruang, Programme Officer II (Researchand Evaluation), SEAMEO Secretariat
1710-1730 hrs

VIII. Synthesis and Closing Messages•Symposium Synthesis by Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela,
Director, SEAMEO Secretariat•Closing Message by Prof Dr Masami Isoda
Director, Centre for Research on International Cooperation in
Educational Development (CRICED), The University of Tsukuba

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