AMIC 2024 Beijing Conference Declaration on Collaboration Among Higher Education Institutions Offering Communication and Journalism Programs in Asia
Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
Pursuing Knowledge Sharing through Internationalization in Higher Education
The AMIC 2024 Beijing Conference (hereinafter ‘the conference’) acknowledges that higher education is now moving towards internationalization and transnationalization.
Internationalization involves integrating international perspectives, experiences, and activities into the core functions of a higher education institution (HEI), namely teaching and learning, research, and community engagement. Transnationalization involves establishing physical campuses or academic programs in countries outside the institution’s home country.
The conference participants recognize that pursuing internationalization and transnationalization, especially among HEIs offering communication and journalism programs in Asia, is beneficial for all. It is enthused by the desire to highlight Asian paradigms and theories; facilitate sharing and/or exchange of education resources; offer world-class and quality higher education for all; and globalize or increase interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies.
Rationale for Internationalization and Transnationalization
Promoting internationalization and transnationalization among Asian HEIs is driven by an emerging movement toward Asianization or Asiacentricity; digital transformation of Asian communities; and a commitment to diversity, equity, and social inclusion. Asian HEIs are among the global leaders offering communication and journalism programs, and many Asian communication professionals are recognized as world-class educators and practitioners.
The conference highlighted that fostering internationalization and transnationalization among HEIs offering communication and journalism programs in Asia facilitates the sharing of lessons and experiences on adaptable communication strategies and tools which address common development issues and challenges in this continent such as poverty, social justice, and climate change.
Areas for Collaboration and Networking
Many Asian HEIs offering communication and journalism programs have achieved world-class status. Under their leadership, they can provide support to other HEIs seeking to achieve higher education standards.
Recognizing the need for more venues for networking and collaboration, the conference called for increased cooperation among Asian communication professionals, practitioners, and HEIs. These include collaborative programs and activities in such areas as research, publications, capacity building, faculty/student exchanges, access to (online) libraries, regular/offshore course offerings, and dual or joint degree programs, among others.
Anchoring in Current Regional Initiatives
The conference participants noted that initiatives toward pan-Asia internationalization and transnationalization should be anchored in ongoing regional initiatives.
This AMIC 2024 Beijing Conference Declaration acknowledges the recently-issued ASEAN-SEAMEO Joint Declaration on the Common Space in Southeast Asian Higher Education adopted on 25 August 2024, which seeks to uphold quality in the provision of higher education across all ASEAN Member States and SEAMEO Member Countries, improve regional academic mobility, and strengthen solidarity through enhanced higher education in-person mobility of students, scholars and lifelong learners.
In South Asia, policy framework and modalities for regional collaboration and integration are in the agenda of several regional forums such as the Regional Cooperation for Higher Education Development: Options for South Asia held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in June 2023.
In Central Asia, a forum fostering cooperation, knowledge sharing, and resource pooling among Central Asian universities was held in Tashkent in September 2023. During the conference, the report Towards Higher Education Excellence in Central Asia: A Roadmap for Improving the Quality of Education and Research through Regional Integration was presented.
In conclusion, the 30th AMIC Annual Conference in Beijing, China held from September 24 to 26, 2024 provided a platform for collaboration in diverse areas among HEIs offering communication and journalism programs in Asia. It reaffirmed the commitment to continue dialogue, cooperation, and shared learning toward internationalization and transnationalization of Asian HEIs.
For more information and updates on the AMIC Conference, please visit: https://sites.google.com/amic.asia/30thamicannualconference/home
Contact: info@amic.asia