The ASEAN Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/Seed-Net) and Burapha University (Thailand) jointly organized the 2nd Regional Conference on New and Renewable Energy held on 21-22 January 2010 in Chonburi, Thailand. The conference was attended by about 100 engineering experts from ASEAN countries, Japan and representatives from the government and private sector.
The conference provided a venue for engineering experts and researchers to exchange knowledge and ideas on how to intensify use of new and renewable energy to address critical and unavoidable demand of energy consumption especially in the ASEAN region. Four keynote presentations and 60 technical papers on new and renewable energy were presented by AUN/SEED-Net member institutions and Japanese supporting institutions.
Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte, Jr., ASEAN Foundation Executive Director, addressed the conference participants highlighting the role of the ASEAN Foundation in helping promote and establish the ASEAN Community. He also emphasized how the AUN/Seed-Net regional conferences have addressed the mandates of the ASEAN Foundation, in particular, developing human resources and enhancing interaction among engineers, academicians and professionals in the region. He also emphasized that knowledge exchange on topics such as this will hopefully lead to tackling socio-economic issues in the region. Burapha University Vice-President for International Relations Asst. Prof. Dr. Pichan Sawangwong, Asst. Prof. Dr. Wirogana Reungphrathuengsuka, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Burapha University and AUN/SEED-Net Executive Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prakit Tangtisanon also extended their warm welcome to the guests and participants.
The conference, organized by the Faculty of Engineering, Burapha University, is part of the 25 regional conferences on various engineering disciplines supported by the ASEAN Foundation through the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund under the Regional Conferences Phase II project implemented by AUN/SEED-Net (ASEAN University Network/Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network). The project is also supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Since 2003, the ASEAN Foundation through the Japan-ASEAN Solidarity Fund, has provided financial support to AUN/SEED-Net to expand and enhance the educational and research engineering capacities of 19 leading engineering schools in ASEAN in cooperation with 11 leading Japanese universities. The ASEAN Foundation provided funding support of over USD 316,000 for graduate studies (master's degree), research grants and other academic programs during the preparatory period (2003-2007 - Phase I) of the AUN/SEED-Net to upgrade faculty qualification and strengthen human linkages through visits and participation in field research and seminars. In Phase II of the AUN/SEED-Net (2008 - 2013), the ASEAN Foundation provided a grant of over USD778,000, which focuses on establishing a sustainable framework of human resource development network in the engineering field. The regional conferences are aimed to strengthen the academic network and serve as the key to tie scholars, industry and community together and to integrate all other programs to achieve the overall objectives of the project.
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