WHAT IS ARC?
The ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Students’ Forum (ARC) is the only bi-regional multi-stakeholder dialogue platform for university and student leaders, policy makers, and business representatives to discuss higher education challenges of mutual concern in Asia and Europe.
ARC is recognised as the Official Dialogue Partner of the ASEM Education Ministers Meeting (ASEM ME). Its results, including policy recommendations and research, feed into the preparation of ASEM MEs. Moreover, ARC is contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and it is one of the initial commitments to the Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
ARC takes place on a biennial basis alternating between Asia and Europe. Over 299 universities from 51 Asian and European countries have been represented at the ARC conferences since 2008.
WHAT WAS ARC7?
The 7th ASEF Rectors’ Conference and Student’s Forum (ARC7) was co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), between 11-15 May 2018 in Bucharest, Romania. ARC7 was be held in conjunction with the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (15-16 May 2019, Bucharest, Romania) and participants had the chance to meet senior officials and education ministers of 51 Asian and European ASEM partner countries.
- Taking Action at Home – SDGs as Core Pillars of University Governance
- Taking Action at Community Level – SDGs as Drivers of University Social Impact
- Taking Action at International Level – SDGs as a Catalyst to Reorient Internationalisation
We are proud that ARC7 is co-designed and intellectually supported by major university and student associations of Asia and Europe: ASEAN University Network (AUN); European University Association (EUA); International Association of Universities (IAU); Erasmus Student Network (ESN), European Students’ Union (ESU) and the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA).
PROGRAMME ELEMENTS
The ARC7 Students’ Forum | 11-15 May 2019
- 8-week Online Preparatory Phase with webinars, individual and team tasks
- 4-day Students’ Forum and joint sessions with the Rectors’ Conference
- Plenary and working group sessions, skills trainings, and networking
The Students’ Forum participants developed a set of Policy Recommendations during the preparatory and on-site phase. These were delivered to the ASEM Education Ministers, who have welcomed and debated them. They became the annex of the ASEMME7 Chairs’Conclusions. Read the Students’ Policy Recommendations here.
The ARC7 Rectors’ Conference | 12-14 May 2019
- 2-day Rectors’ Conference and joint sessions with the Students’ Forum
- Thought-provocative debate sessions and working group sessions for sharing
The participants of the Rectors’ Conference discussed a set of Policy Recommendations prepared by the partner organizations of ARC7 (EUA, IAU, AUN) and the finalized recommendations were presented for the deliberation of the 7th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM ME7). The recommendations became the annex of the ASEMME7 Chairs’Conclusions. Read the Rectors’ Policy Recommendations here.
The 7th ASEM Ministers’ of Education Meeting | 15-16 May 2019
ARC7 was held in conjunction with the 7th ASEM Ministers’ of Education Meeting (ASEMME7) titled “Connecting Education: Inclusion, Mobility & Excellence in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals”. The ministers have welcomed the representatives of the students and university organisations, debated the policy recommendations, and included them as annexes to the Chairs’ Conclusions.
WHEN
ARC7 Students’ Forum | 11-15 May 2019
ARC7 Rectors’ Conference | 12-14 May 2019
ASEM Ministers’ of Education Meeting | 15-16 May 2019
WHERE
Bucharest, Romania
COSTS
There was no registration or participation fee. The organisers provided all students with travel subsidy, accommodation and meals; and participants of the Rectors’ Conference in financial need could asked for subsidies too.
ACCESSIBILITY
ARC7 was accessible to all participants.The organisers did not discriminate any applicant or participant on the basis of his or her race, national origin (ancestry), colour, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, religion (creed), marital status, or age.