by importance of technological advancement in education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for its citizens. In the digital age, traditional models of education delivery are changing rapidly with technology playing a critical role. ASEAN realizes that embracing smart education approaches can help its member states progress economically and socially.
ASEAN Vision on Smart Education
ASEAN has set a clear vision to promote smart and digital education across the region. Some of the key goals that ASEAN has outlined include:
– Facilitating accessibility to quality education: ASEAN aims to make educational resources and opportunities accessible to one and all through online and distance learning modes. This will help address issues like limited infrastructure in rural areas.
– Developing 21st century skills: Technologies are changing the skills required for future jobs. ASEAN wants education systems to focus on skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, digital literacy, problem-solving etc.
– Promoting lifelong learning: ASEAN realizes that learning is a continuous process today. Through open learning platforms, learners can acquire new skills and stay updated throughout their careers.
– Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship: ASEAN wants to inculcate innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets in learners. Smart learning aids this by exposing students to real-world problem solving.
– Fostering internationalization: Digital technologies enable collaborative learning across borders. ASEAN aims to facilitate international exchange of ideas through virtual mobility of students and educators.
Key Initiatives to Promote Smart Education
To achieve this vision, ASEAN has rolled out multiple initiatives and frameworks for smart education development in the region:
ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020: This masterplan aimed to strengthen ICT infrastructure, promote e-Learning courses, develop online education portals, and enhance collaboration between universities through virtual linkages.
ASEAN University Network: It is a consortium of over 100 leading universities that works on developing joint online programs, credit transfer facilities, scholar exchange programs etc between member institutions.
Digital Learning Competency Framework: An competency framework has been developed to outline the key digital skills and literacies required by educators, students and other stakeholders in the digital education landscape.
Smart Education Portal: A unified regional portal is being developed to host open educational resources, online courses, training programs, webinars and education-related information for learners across ASEAN.
Digital Skills Certification: Common digital skills certifications are being introduced to certify competencies acquired through online courses or work-integrated training programs. This aids mobility of digital talents.
Benefits of ASEAN’s Smart Education Approach
ASEAN’s efforts towards ASEAN Smart Education And Learning smart and digital education are expected to yield significant benefits in the coming years:
– Address issues like shortage of quality educators and infrastructure gaps through technology-enabled learning.
– Skills development will be more aligned to industry needs as new-age courses can be offered remotely using digital tools.
– Lifelong learning will get a boost as working professionals can continuously re-skill online as per job market shifts.
– Cross-border mobility of students and educators will increase virtual exchanges and internationalization of education.
– Innovation will be fostered as learners will have opportunities to work on real-world projects with global peers.
– Economic growth can be driven by developing a skilled digital workforce and knowledge-based societies in ASEAN.
– Social inclusion can improve as disadvantaged populations gain access to education with help of open resources.
– Sustainable development can be achieved through sharing of educational resources without infrastructure expansion.
While the shift to smart education poses initial challenges, ASEAN’s holistic approach and initiatives are bound to transform the education landscape in the region for the better in the coming decade. The ability of its citizens to acquire 21st century skills will put ASEAN on the path of continued socioeconomic progress.
ASEAN recognized that embracing smart education approaches aligning to industry 4.0 can help its member states progress economically and socially in the digital age. The regional bloc has outlined a clear vision and taken multiple initiatives to promote technology-enabled learning. ASEAN’s efforts are expected to address issues like infrastructure gaps, boost skills development, offer lifelong learning opportunities and foster internationalization through virtual exchange of ideas. Overall, smart education will play an important role in developing a skilled digital workforce and knowledge-based societies to drive sustainable growth in ASEAN.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
