The ASEM Education Intermediate Senior Officials Meeting (ASEM ME6 ISOM) on “Global Connectivity for ASEM Education” took place on 13-14 April 2016 in Moscow, the Russian Federation, where representatives of the 53 ASEM partners shared results and achievements of bi-regional activities within the ASEM Education Process. The meeting served as a preparation in the lead up to the 6th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM ME6) in 2017 in Korea.
On this occasion, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) presented the outcomes of the recent 5th ASEM Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC5). ARC5 concluded with the development of 2 sets of policy recommendations on employability, created by rectors and students from all 51 ASEM partner countries, during their meeting from 4-8 April 2016 in Prague, the Czech Republic.
The policy recommendations represent the perspectives and voices, from civil society to the deliberations of the 6th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM ME6) in 2017 in Korea. They focus on 3 core areas for cooperation between governments, universities, business and the third sector to enhance employability in Asia and Europe: a) the creation of a continuous multi-stakeholder dialogue; b) the importance of the recognition of work experience in the new economy; and c) on mobility, accessibility and financing. Both the rectors and students also reiterated the recommendations of the 4th ASEM Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC4) held in 2015 in Hangzhou, China.