As many of you already know, the first phase of the AUN/SEED-Net Project of JICA finished successfully with a lot of welcome results on March 10, 2008. Expectedly and smoothly the following project as the second phase has started from March 11, 2008. Since then, I have joined the Project as Academic Advisor. In reality, I had been involved in the Project’s first phase as a supporter in Vietnam and Japan. In this sense I was ready to join the Project even before I became the Academic Advisor for this time.

Thanks to good results and activities through all related institutions and people, up until now, AUN/SEED-Net has earned certain reputation and popularity among ASEAN countries. AUN/SEED-Net should keep and accelerate those momentum to realize the super goals of the Network. Upon the momentum, I would like to emphasize the necessity of sustainable and self-reliant operation. Those are the key words or basic concepts to pursue actively during the second phase.

Still do you remember Dr. Tsunoda, my predecessor? I think many of you well recognize and are impressed with his warm character. He will work for a new project in Egypt to found a new University of Science & Technology (E-JUST). I wish him success in Egypt and expect fruitful linkage between the AUN/SEED-Net and E-JUST soon.

Dr. Tsunoda contributed to a lot of activities of the Project during the first phase. We cannot be the same without him; however, we should be expected to try to do our best to enhance the Network as usual. Finally, I hope the Network will have more popularity in terms of quality throughout Asia.

During the five years of Phase I, AUN/SEED-Net successfully upgraded faculty qualifications of the member institutions through higher degree acquisition, since almost 90% of our scholars returned to work as faculty members of their institutions and produced more capable engineers needed for the region’s development. It also encouraged the launch of new graduate programs or international programs as well as the enhancement of existing programs to the international level. And over 200 collaborative research projects, which were funded by the AUN/SEED-Net Project, notably multiplied the numbers of research activities, journal publications, conference papers and proceedings in engineering field.

Joint activities and human linkage among ASEAN and Japanese institutions were strengthened through supporting activities provided by the AUN/SEED-Net such as visits and exchanges of staff, field-wise seminars, and research collaboration. These activities not only facilitated academic cooperation and joint supervision of students, but also helped enhance capacity of the member institutions.

It also initiated academic and research collaboration in critical areas. The Workshop on Disaster Mitigation and Management in ASEAN Countries arranged in Phuket, Thailand, in 2005; the Distance Learning Program on Earthquake Engineering run since 2005 between Chulalongkorn University and Tokyo Institute of Technology; and the Emergency Response Program to the Java earthquake conducted by Gadjah Mada University, Kyushu University and Kyoto University are all examples of the Network’s contributions to the region in the past.

AUN/SEED-Net generated some remarkable impacts to the region. ASEAN became the interesting option for higher education in engineering, other than western countries, because of improved curricula, cost-effectiveness, and cultural similarity. Moreover, the Network built up friendship and mutual understanding among scholars and academics in various ASEAN countries, which can contribute to the future ASEAN integration. Many Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding among the member institutions and with the Japanese supporting universities therefore were fostered through AUN/SEED-Net. Based on these achievements, the AUN/SEED-Net Project was highly recommended by all stakeholders to be continued.

Phase II of the AUN/SEED-Net Project has started from March 11, 2008 for five years, with considerable supports from the Japanese Government through JICA, the governments of the member countries and the member institutions, the ASEAN Foundation, and other organizations. With the purpose to establish a sustainable framework of human resource development network in engineering field under the ownership of the ASEAN countries, contributing to regional development, the AUN/SEED-Net would enhance the capacity of its member universities, collaborate on research for industry and community, strengthen regional engineering network, and step towards the Graduate School Consortium of Engineering among ASEAN - Japan.

Significantly, the Network will extend its outreach to involve non-member institutions, as well as industrial and government sectors, to empower its alumni network, and to set out interdisciplinary research on the region’s common issues; namely Biotechnology, Disaster Mitigation, Global Environment, Natural Resources & Materials, and New & Renewable Energy. With the belief in the network power and spirit, it is believed that the Network would be able to offer great help and suitable technologies to mitigate or solve the key problems that occurred in ASEAN and in the world.