Promoting ASEAN Awareness at the Higher Education Chalkface

Contemporary Southeast Asia Vol. 39, No. 1 (2017), pp. 127–48 DOI: 10.1355/cs39-1d © 2017 ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute ISSN 0129-797X print / ISSN 1793-284X electronic Promoting ASEAN Awareness at the Higher Education Chalkface DIAN AZMAWATI and LINDA QUAYLE This research note outlines a project-in-progress, in the hope of soliciting broader participation and discussion. It describes and evaluates a joint initiative between two regional universities to promote inter-class contact and active learning on the subject of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and supplements the experience gained in this endeavour through interviews with practising lecturers. Based on these twin research thrusts, the note argues that the higher education chalkface is a vital arena for ASEAN community-building, and pleads for a more concerted effort to link politics and pedagogy. To this end, recommendations include: cooperating to generalize and extend the kinds of small-scale projects discussed in this article; establishing an inclusive, interactive, teaching-oriented website where ideas and material can be shared; setting up a platform where the results of student-driven research and initiatives can be made available; and organizing practitioner-oriented workshops where lecturers can access Dian Azmawati is a Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and is the Director of the International Program of International Relations (IPIREL). Postal address: Jl Lingkar Selatan, Kasihan, Bantul, Yogyakarta 55183, Indonesia; email: dianazmawati@umy.ac.id. Linda Quayle is an Assistant Professor in the School of Politics, History, and International Relations, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. Postal address: Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia; email: Linda.Quayle@nottingham.edu.my. 04 Dian-3P.indd 127 30/3/17 2:06 pm Dian Azmawati and Linda...