On May 21, 2024, Khun Treesuvit (David) Arriyavat, ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform Manager at the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), Mahidol University, welcomed delegates from Timor-Leste participating in the Futuru Lider Ba ASEAN (FLBA) programme, alongside representatives from the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat.
During this event, Khun Treesuvit (David) Arriyavat delivered a lecture on “Circular Economy in ASEAN.” He discussed the concept of a circular economy, relevant strategies and frameworks, and provided examples of regional and national mechanisms to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Additionally, he presented various business cases within the circular economy. The session concluded with an interactive discussion on Timor-Leste’s national mechanisms and local initiatives for waste management and circular economy, and the Framework for Circular Economy for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
FLBA participants will gain a deeper understanding of ASEAN, explore areas of regional cooperation, and represent Timor-Leste through an experiential visit to various sociocultural, economic, and industrial sites in Bangkok, Thailand. The ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat will facilitate this 10-day visit, which includes lectures, seminars, and activities designed to support the development of ASEAN-capable and ASEAN-ready leaders from Timor-Leste.
The objective of the experiential visit is to foster the next generation of leaders in ASEAN by providing exposure and networking opportunities that highlight Timor-Leste’s strengths and potential. These leaders will be trained to ensure responsible economic growth, social progress, and sustainability in Timor-Leste. Successful leadership will also promote career mobility and entrepreneurship across various sectors in Timor-Leste.
Throughout the programme, members of the ASEAN Immersion team will reflect on their experiences to produce an immersion report, capturing the knowledge gained during the visit. Participants are expected to develop an enhanced understanding of Thailand’s economic landscape, key industries and sectors, and culture. Visits to research institutions, public and private sectors, and government bodies will offer valuable networking opportunities and knowledge exchange on relevant topics and emerging trends. This experience aims to inspire innovative approaches and solutions applicable to Timor-Leste’s development goals.
The delegates will visit various cities and districts in Thailand, including Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Chon Buri. They will have the opportunity to visit institutions such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the AUN thematic network AUN-University Innovation and Enterprise (AUN-UIE), AUN Member Universities like Mahidol University and Burapha University, and more. Activities during these visits will cover a wide range of topics under the umbrella of Human Development, Economic Growth, and Sustainability. Specific topics include tourism, sustainable development goals (SDG) initiatives, zero waste management, gender equality, and strategic leadership thinking.
