SEAMEO QITEP in Science (SEAQIS) actively contributed to the 2025 China–ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW) in Guiyang, China, through its participation in two high-level forums focused on international collaboration, talent cultivation, and teacher empowerment.
On 25 July 2025, SEAQIS joined the International Symposium on Cultivating High-Level International Talents, held under the theme “Global Collaboration, Educational Innovation: Cultivating Future-Oriented International Talents.” The event brought together over 200 participants from ministries of education, universities, international organizations, and policy think tanks across Asia.
The symposium featured a diverse range of perspectives from prominent figures such as Shakeel Ahmad, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Cambodia, Prof Wang Zhijia (Former Deputy Director, United Nations Environment Programme) and Fang Hong (Executive President, Earth Charter International China Center). Representing SEAQIS, Rizwan Darmawan, Head of the Regional Science Education Programme Division, joined the roundtable session “How Can Global Collaboration Foster Talents with Internationalized Capabilities?” He shared SEAQIS’ approach to nurturing young professionals in science education—through internships, leadership mentoring, and international exposure—while underscoring the importance of continued Southeast Asia–China collaboration in cultivating globally competent talents.
SEAQIS also took part in the Seminar on International Teacher Exchange and Cooperation which was held on 26 July 2025 at CAECW’s permanent venue in Guizhou. The event brought together more than 100 representatives, including officials from the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, ASEAN ministries of education, provincial education bureaus, leading universities, international organizations, and 45 science teachers from Southeast Asia participating in the training programme.
Delivering a keynote speech titled “Empowering Teachers: A Shared Commitment to Quality and Collaboration,” Rizwan highlighted SEAQIS’ commitment to teacher empowerment through STEM education, climate education, and regional collaboration, particularly through its engagement in the Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC). Also representing SEAQIS at the event were Septian Karyana, Head of ICT, Data, and Evaluation Division, and Hamriana, Head of Human Resources and General Affairs Division.
Other featured speakers included Dr Suthep Thaugsuban (Deputy Minister of Education, Thailand), Han Jinhong (Deputy Director, Department of Teacher Affairs, Ministry of
Education of China), and senior leaders from universities such as Central China Normal University and Guizhou Normal University.
Through its active engagement in CAECW 2025, SEAQIS demonstrated its strategic role in advancing regional cooperation in science education. From shaping future-ready talents to empowering teachers, SEAQIS continues to build bridges across Southeast Asia and China to strengthen education systems and respond to shared global challenges.
