The fourth South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum was held in Kunming, capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province, on Oct 23.

The fourth South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum is held in Kunming. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Under the theme "Smart Learning, Inclusive Sharing", the forum focused on two key topics: "The Transformation Path of Higher Education Driven by Digital and Intelligent Technologies" and "Digital Practices for Inclusive Education". The event brought together valuable insights from member universities of the South and Southeast Asian University Network and helped refine the network's development strategies.

Wu Jian, Vice President of Yunnan University, delivered opening remarks. Daravone Kittiphanh, Vice Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, cadres, experts, and scholars from member universities of the network attended the forum.

The fourth South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum is held in Kunming. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

During the event, a ceremony was held to welcome new members to the South and Southeast Asian University Network, and projects of S&SE Asian UN were officially launched.

Keynote speeches on "The Transformation Path of Higher Education Driven by Digital and Intelligent Technologies" were delivered by Mahamood Shougee, Chancellor of the Maldives National University; Zhao Shuangliang, Vice President of Guangxi University; Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of North South University, Bangladesh; Jiang Yehua, Vice President of Kunming University of Science and Technology; and Shun Fung Chiu, Vice President of De La Salle University, the Philippines.

The round-table discussion of the fourth South and Southeast Asian University Presidents Forum is held. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

At the round-table discussion themed on "Digital Practices for Inclusive Education", Tint Moe Thu Zar, Rector of Yadanabon University in Myanmar; Dahubaiyila, Vice President of Inner Mongolia University; Abdur Rob Miah, Vice Chancellor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology in Bangladesh; and Phalaphone Sayakone, Director General of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Laos, shared their insights. The session was moderated by Thakerng Wongsirichot, Vice President of Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.

The successful convening of this forum will further enhance exchanges and cooperation among member universities and promote the joint construction and sharing of a regional higher education platform in the digital intelligence era.