The ASEAN Future Leaders Summit (AFLES 2013) was a one-week long student leadership transformation program, gathering 100 students from leading universities in Asia. The summit took place at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia, and at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus, Thailand, from October 21– 26, 2013. This was the first endeavor in bringing the best talented minds of these universities under one program, and to enrich them with leadership capabilities. This program intended to create a networking platform for participants to share ideas and knowledge in critical issues of higher education, leadership and student participation, and to aid in policymaking to create a sustainable tomorrow for younger generations.
1. Theoretical Approach: Business Leadership Sessions at USM
The theme of the summit was “Business Leadership & Economic Development”. The focus of the summit in Penang was towards business leadership. In the first three days at Universiti Sains Malaysia, the delegates were exposed to plenary sessions, talkathons and panel discussions on various aspects of the leadership. The panel session invited great leaders from Intel, Dell in Malaysia & Indonesia, along with Dr. Nantana Gajaseni, Executive Director of ASEAN University Network (AUN).
2. Practical Approach: Community Economic Development Activities in Thailand
The focus of AFLES 2013 in Thailand was economic development, where the delegates visited two villages in Southern Thailand, and participated in a community engagement activity through reforestation in Phattalung province. Visiting Ta Hin Village, the delegates learned about community empowerment through harnessing and developing products from sugar palm trees. At Pak Ro village they learned various processes in developing sweets from locally derived resources. These economic development case study visits were not only a learning platform for the delegates of AFLES 2013, but also meant to encourage them to continue these efforts in spreading the word after they return to their respective countries. On the last day of the summit, the delegates visited Phattalung province and engaged in a community-led reforestation project.
3. Multilateral Cultural Exchange
Apart from various sessions on leadership, AFLES 2013 provided an opportunity to explore the cultural heritage and city attractions of Penang and Hat Yai. The delegates visited Georgetown UNESCO heritage area, and Samila Beach. Furthermore, a Cultural Night was held in the evening of 23 October at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Delegates presented several performances, including Tarian Malaysia, Saman dance, Vietnamese traditional folk dance, Myanmar traditional Shan dance, Brunei legend performance, and Muay Thai & Ram Wong performance. This cultural gathering was a testament to the diversity and integrated approach in bringing us together under the ASEAN banner.
All participants and organizers appreciated the balanced approach of theoretical learning on business leadership in Malaysia and practical hands-on economic development in Thailand. Both organizing universities expressed their interest in continuing the summit in 2014.
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