EMA at seminar on EU’s evolving role in ASEAN: youth perspectives on opportunities during malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship and beyond

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – March 20, 2025

Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) participated in a day-long seminar titled ‘EU’s evolving role in ASEAN: youth perspectives on opportunities during Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship and beyond’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the 20th of March, 2025.

Hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), this one-day event brought together members of Youth Sounding Boards in ASEAN, national Erasmus Country Representatives, and other participants to connect with each other, voice out ASEAN youth aspirations for the future of EU-ASEAN relations, and learn more about Malaysia's goals as ASEAN Chair 2025.

EMA Members with H. E. Rafael Daerr, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia.

Malaysia assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, and this event reflected the three pillars of the EU's Youth Action Plan: engage, empower, and connect, as well as the ASEAN Chair theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability," aiming to foster shared progress and ensuring that no one is left behind while also strengthening regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

A drafted version of a forward-looking Youth Statement was generated at the end of the seminar to be brought to the attention of senior policymakers on EU-ASEAN relations across 4 priority areas—‘environment and climate,’ ‘democracy and human rights,’ ‘higher education, science, technology and innovation,’ and ‘connectivity, sustainable growth and jobs, and digitization.’

Present at the event were EMA Country Representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Erasmus Mundus alumni from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Timor-Leste were also in attendance along with EMA Research and Innovation Coordinator, Dr Hazariah Mohd Noh and EMA Board Member and Director of Partnerships, Dr. Collins Santhanasamy.

EMA has a wide network of Program and Country Representatives who work to support prospective and current Erasmus Mundus students as well as the large alumni network across various regions. For more information on EMA in ASEAN and partnership enquiries, please contact partnership@am-a.eu.

Photo Credit: Delegation of the European Union to ASEAN

By Collins Santhanasamy,

EMA Director of Partnership Development Unit (PDU)