ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation)

Advancing mutual understanding and collaboration among the people of Asia and Europe.

What We Do
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) advances mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.

ASEF's Goals
Our goal is the establishment of permanent bi-regional networks focused on areas and issues that help to strengthen Asia-Europe relations. ASEF acts as the civil society outreach of ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) and interface between civil society and ASEM governments, and consequently contributes to the ASEM process by generating unique recommendations for officials’ consideration.

ASEM Countries
Initially consisting of fifteen EU member states, ten ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, Korea and European Commission, ASEM saw its first enlargement at its 5th Summit in 2004, where both new EU and ASEAN member states became part of the process: Cambodia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Myanmar, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. The subsequent round of ASEM enlargement in 2007 brought in India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Romania, Bulgaria and the ASEAN Secretariat, increasing the grouping into a total of forty-five partners.

Our Exchanges
These include:
* conferences
* lecture tours
* workshops
* seminars and
* the use of web-based platforms.

ASEF's Activities
We cover these thematic areas:
* Arts Development
* Artistic Practices & Cultural Policy
* Education & Academic Co-operation
* Environment & Sustainable Development
* Human Rights & Governance
* Intercultural Dialogue
* International Relations
* Media & Society and
* Youth

Programmes
ASEF has over 30 programmes offering covering a diverse range of subjects and topics. Each programme spins-off into one or more projects or is a project in its own right. Select a programme from the list below to find out more about that programme and the projects under that programme.

To find more about each project and exchange opportunities, visit the website here

The Asia-Europe Foundation and the Woosuk University are pleased to invite qualified young individuals from Asia and Europe to participate in the fifteenth edition of the ASEF University, to be held from 29 June to 11 July 2009 in the Republic of Korea.

This year's ASEF University will aim to compare, connect and contrast the impacts of the globalisation process on Migration and Multi-Cultural Societies. The programme will include, among others, discussions on migration from a multi-perspective approach. There is growing recognition that migration is an essential and inevitable component of a State's economic and social life, and that orderly and proper migration management can benefit both individuals and societies. The multiple and complex dimensions of migration issues will be included.

The ASEF University is open to university students from the 43 ASEM countries. Participants must be 25years old or younger and should preferably be in their final undergraduate year or first graduate year. Successful applicants should have strong academic credentials and established leadership skills through involvement in extra-curricular activities. The programme would generally benefit students of Asian Studies, European Studies, Development Studies, Architecture, Design, Urban Planning and Social Sciences.

Application Deadline: 31 March 2009
More information on ASEF website

10th Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE)
Health on Stage – Enhancing Cultural Competencies for Public Health Dialogue
20th August – 1st October 2011

Are you between 20 and 35 years old, actively involved in International Voluntary Service, experienced in Intercultural Learning and interested in (Forum) Theatre and Public Health topics? Participate this August-September for 6 weeks in Health on Stage!

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) are pleased to invite you to apply for the 10th Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE): Health on Stage – Enhancing Cultural Competencies for Public Health Dialogue (20th August – 1st October 2011).

Deadline for application is 15th June 2011
Selected candidates will be informed by 1st July

The 10th AEYVE aims to enhance cultural competencies and creative thinking of young volunteers to foster dialogue on public health. It includes the following phases:
- Preparation of Participants
- 1-week Training on Intercultural Learning, Forum Theatre and Water-related diseases
- 4-weeks Field Activities: the Forum Theatre performances in local communities in southern India
- 5-days Evaluation Meeting
- Follow-up Activities

The 10th AEYVE will gather 27 participants that are:
- A citizen of any ASEM country1 between 20 and 35 years old
- An active member (staff, volunteer, board member) of an International Voluntary Service (IVS-) Organisation, who is able to create new IVS-projects in your own organisation and/or community
- Experienced in the field of intercultural learning and/or former participant/group leader in an IVS-project
- Interested or having a background in
o Drama/Theatre/Festivals
o Creative Communication/Mass-communication
o Public Health Issues
- Proficient in the English language (written and verbal)
- Committed to participate during the whole project period as well as during the preparation and follow-up

The organisers of the project will:
- Cover local costs (accommodation and meals) from 20th August to 1st October 2011
- Arrange/cover IVS-insurance for accidents and third party liability (we encourage the selected participants
to have his/her own medical travel insurance for the whole duration of her service)
- Partially reimburse the travel costs, covering 50% of the total expenses (international economic air fare, local transportation and visa costs) with a maximum of 250 EURO for participants travelling from Asia and 450 EURO for participants travelling from Europe, Australia and New Zealand

Interested parties should send the completed Participant Application Form, through their sending organisations, no later than 15th June 2011.

For further information and contact details, visit ASEF Exchange program website here