The Asia Professional Education Network (APEN) and Eastern Visayas State University collaborated in holding a two-day event, the 12th Board of Directors Meeting of APEN and the FY2022 APEN General Assembly Meeting Seminar entitled “New Industrial Framework in the Age of Digital Transformation”, November 22-23 at Summit Hotel, Tacloban City.
The activity is the result of the Eastern Visayas State University’s quest for internationalization through the efforts of the Vice-President for Internationalization and External Affairs, Dr. Danilo B. Pulma and the Director for Internationalization for Higher Education, Prof. Faustito A. Aure, and the University President, Dr. Dennis C. de Paz.
The members of the association gathered to promote educational collaborations, to wit: Asia Professional Education Network, represented by Prof. Hashimoto Hiroshi, Chairperson of APEN and President of Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology; Prof. Maeda Mitsuhiro,Secretary General of APEN and Professor-Director for Foreign Affairs of Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology; Eastern Visayas State University,through Dr.Dennis C. de Paz,the University President; Universiti Brunei Darussalam,Prof. Chandratilak De Silva Liyanage,Dean of School of Digital Science (SDS).
Meanwhile, the other board of directors attended in online modality such as: Gujarat Technological University, Dr. Navin Sheth,Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Technological University; Institut Teknologi Bandung, Prof. Ir.Ade Sjafruddin,Professor,Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Dr. Nita Yuanita, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs,Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering; National University of Laos, Dr. Phonekeo Chanthamaly, Acting Director,Lao-Japan Human Resource Development Institute; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Asso.Prof. Ts.Dr. Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin, Dean Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, and Yangon Technological University, Prof. Myint Thein, Rector of Yangon Techonological University, and Vietnam National University.
The Board of Directors of the association is composed of thirteen universities in Asia namely: Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology ,Japan; Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea; Shanghai Jiao Tong University,China;Vietnam National University, Vietnam; Institute of Technology of Cambodia,Cambodia; Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia; Thammasat University,Thailand; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,Malaysia; National University of Laos,Lao PDR; De la Salle University,Philippines; Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam; Yangon Technological University,Myanmar; and Gujarat Technological University,India.
The regular members are the following: The Hiroshima Shinkin Bank, Japan; The Okazali Shinkin Bank, Japan; The Johnan Shinkin Bank,Japan; Universitas Darma Persada,Indonesia; Japan Institute of Design Promotion,Japan; JTB Corporate Sales Inc., Japan; J-Tech Corporation, Japan; University of the Ryuksus,Japan; University of the Philippines, Philippines; Tanri Abeng University, Indonesia; Hanoi University of Business and Technology,Vietnam; Simco Song Da Joint Stock Company, Vietnam; Lao Vita Development Co., Ltd, Lao PDR; Newton Microfinance Institution, Lao PDR; University of Indonesia, Indonesia; Tokyo Association of Small Business Entrepreneurs,Japan; Eastern Visayas State University,Philippines; HANSIBA (Hanoi Supporting Industries Business Association),Vietnam; HANOIBA (Hanoi Young Business Association), Vietnam and Dong A University, Vietnam.
The two-day activity commenced with the 12th Board of Directors Meeting which tackled the Progress Report for FY 2021-2022 and the outreach activities of the organization.
The group further discussed how educational collaborations among APEN member universities will materialize as well as the creation of advisory committee.
Meanwhile, the second day of the event focused on the Seminar on New Industrial Framework in the Age of Digital Transformation (HIFLEX).
Prof. Hiroshi Hashimoto, Chairperson of APEN and the President of Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology,Japan gave his opening remarks.
The other distinguished members of the association shared their inputs, to wit: Prof. Naoshi Uda, University of Darma Persada, Indonesia; Prof. Mitsuhiro Maeda, Secretary General of APEN and Professor and Director for Foreign Affairs of Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, Japan;Academician Alvin B. Culaba, University Fellow and Distinguished Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Former Executive Vice-President for External Relations and Internationalization, De la Salle University, Philippines; Prof. Nguyen Manh Quan, Hanoi University of Business and Technology, Vietnam;Prof. Ts. Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin, Dean, Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia; Dr. Navin Sheth, Honorable Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Technological University, India; Prof. Chandratilak de Silva Liyanage, Dean, School of Digital Science (SDS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam.
The seminar capped off with the closing remarks of the University President of Eastern Visayas State University, Dr. Dennis C. de Paz.
Furthermore, a networking session with the College of Business and Entrepreneurship,through Dean Rose Anna L. Refuerzo and Prof. Maeda Misuhiro,Director for Foreign Affairs of Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, took place.
They tackled the following for possible collaborations: Feasibility Study in Region 8 for Graduate School Students Traffic App; Math Tutorial for Entrance Admission to Higher Institutions; Assessment of Forestry in Region 8 to look into the technology to be used in response to business.
Furthermore, an APEN International Conference to be co-hosted by the College of Business and Entrepreneurship in January was also explored.
In addition, APEN will also be the partner of the Eastern Visayas State University in the 6th International Science, Technology, Engineering, Agri-Fisheries, and Mathematics (STEAM) on August 29-31, 2023 with the theme ” Leveraging a STEAM-Centered Smart Campus Toward Building a Globally-LInked Regional Innovation System”.
