Higher Education Regionalism in Southeast Asia: Integrating Multiple Roles for Regional Development

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: International Contexts and Issues in Postsecondary Education

Abstract

This paper focuses on the regional initiatives in higher education in Southeast Asia and what roles higher education play in regional development. Using international relations theories combining liberal, constructivist, and realist approaches and reviewing three major documents in regional organizations, I find that regional activities in Southeast Asia are supported by strong political will, systemized by regional organizations and cover a wide range of activities to harmonize the higher education system in the region. I also find that higher education is seen to be important for regional solidarity and economic competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. Interestingly, national interests are not a dominant value in higher education regionalism.

Author

• You Zhang, University of Toronto