Toward the UK-ASEAN Network on in Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Successful organisation of the UK and ASEAN workshop on “Cost-effective solutions & assistive technologies for low-income ageing populations”
Partners and coordinators of the UK-Vietnam network o HEIE successfully organised the UK and ASEAN workshop on “Cost-effective solutions & assistive technologies for low-income ageing populations” in Hanoi in 22 – 24 August 2018, funded by Newton Fund. This is the first time Vietnam got the Regional Researcher Links project from Newton Fund, to organise the international workshop, with 35 participants who are the scientists, researchers and experts at 27 higher education institutions in the UK, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
This UK & ASEAN workshop brings in researchers and experts from multi-disciplinary fields to work together, to share knowledges and expertise, and to stimulate fruitful collaborations regionally and internationally to tackle the most enjoying challenges in Science and Technology for an equal and socially sustainable society, and a fair community: “Cost-effective solutions & assistive technologies for low-income ageing populations”.
There are 5 activities successfully implemented at the workshop, including (1) Scientific & Technological (S/T) presentations, R&D collaborations and Funding Opportunities; (2) Transnational education & research; (3) Publications and editing the books about Ageing Technologies; (4) Mentoring and surgeries for R&D proposals and signing the non-disclosure agreements; and (5) Filed Trips, networking and media events. During 3 days of the workshop, there are totally 28 scientific and technological (S/T) presentations from the UK and ASEAN researchers and experts at the workshop.
Especially, Ms. Nguyen Thu Giang, a Higher Education Manager (Science and Innovation) of British Council in Vietnam presented about funding opportunities for potential collaborations between ASEAN and UK at the workshop. In addition, there are also keynote presentations from Dr Mai Anh Tuan and Dr Chi Hieu Le about opportunities for collaborations in R&D, technology transfer and commercialisation of R&D outcomes with partners in Vietnam, especially potential collaborations and investments in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park (www.hhtp.gov.vn) and Saigon Hi-Tech Park (www.eng.shtp.hochiminhcity.gov.vn).
All the UK and ASEAN participants found the UK & ASEAN workshop interesting, informative and useful, with potentials for fruitful collaborations between the UK and ASEAN in Higher Education, Research & Technology development (R&D), and commercialisation of Hi-Tech products and services, especially in development of innovative and cost-effective solutions to tackle the challenges and problems of ageing in developing countries. There are at least 26 specific R&D collaborative projects and proposals, successfully developed by UK and ASEAN participants at the workshop with the signed non-disclosure agreements. The UK and ASEAN participants also worked together to develop the 3-5-10 years road-maps for assistive technologies & cost-effective solutions for developing countries to tackle problems of aging populations. This road-map are helpful for the UK and ASEAN participants to establish the common goals and executive plans for potential collaborations in both Higher Education and R&D, especially to develop collaborative R&D projects and proposals, and plans for co-authoring books and/or book chapters, or technical papers in the emerging R&D areas of “Cost-effective solutions & assistive technologies for ageing populations”.
The workshop will help immediately to strengthen the current UK–Vietnam collaborations via UK-Vietnam Network in Higher Education, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HEIE): www.vuheie.org, which was co-founded by the applicants, and for long-term benefits, to expand these to the wider ASEAN region, emphasizing on the shared research and innovation challenges, providing direct impacts on the social welfare, economic development, and life quality of low-income ageing populations.
The following are the list of Higher Education Institutions in the UK and ASEAN that have researchers and experts who attended and contributed to the workshop:
UNITED KINGDOM:
• Cardiff University
• Imperial College London
• The University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• University of Greenwich
• University of Leeds
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Westminster
VIETNAM:
• Hanoi University of Public Health
• Hanoi University of Science and Technology
• Ho Chi Minh City Open University
• Hue Industrial College
• Hung Yen University of Technology and Education
• International University, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City
• Le Quy Don Technical University
• National Centre for Technological Progress
• National Technology Innovation Fund, Ministry of Science & Technology
• Saigon Hi-Tech Park
• Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry
• University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University – Hanoi
THAILAND & MALAYSIA:
• Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand
• Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Thailand
• Ministry of Interior, Thailand
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
• Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (UTEM), Malaysia
• International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Malaysia
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia
The photo albums about the workshop can be found at the following link: https://goo.gl/HHfx6M or
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hieulch/sets/72157704123266631
The following are the typical quotes and comments about the workshop from the UK and ASEAN participants:
This is my first time attending such a workshop and this workshop has been organised excellently: A “Great networking, Informative and Fruitful” workshop. I have learnt and gained a lot of new perspectives from participants form various nations and research backgrounds. I had the chance to get to know all the participants
Dr Jamaluddin Mahmud, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia)
The ASEAN-UK workshop had proved thought-provoking and extremely informative. Discussions were engaging with active contributions from all participants.
Dr Richard Evans, Brunel University (United Kingdom)
The workshop provided opportunities and networks for development potential collaborations among participants. The most interesting part is the tips to apply the grants. It is great and excellent to have a workshop like this as a platform for collaborations and fruitful networking. It should be organised at least more than 3 days with involvements of more participants to identify experts from all the areas and disciplines to work on the core themes of the workshop “Cost-Effective Solutions and Assistive Technologies for Low-Income Ageing Populations “.
Dr Azhari bin Md Hashim, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia)
The contents and organisation of the workshop are excellent. The workshop provided interesting and inspiring discussions about the most enjoying challenges for the countless year for an equal and socially sustainable society and a fair community.
Dr Martino Pani, University of Portsmouth (United Kingdom)
The workshop is great. We can meet researchers and experts from many fields. It provided good opportunities to look for fruitful collaborations.
Dr Teerayut Horanont , Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology – SIIT (Thailand)
The workshop has been successfully organised and executed. As an early career researcher, I found this workshop to be very useful for me in the future in expanding my research network and international collaborations. Thank you so much to organisers, coordinators and the funder for making this happen and hopefully more collaborations can be initiated after this workshop, for the benefits for all other participants and the community.
Dr Asnida Abd Wahab, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia)
“Let’s help the elderly people to have an exciting life”
Dr Trung Luong Huynh, Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand)
I find the exchange of interest and expertise fascinating and it is encouraging to learn that there are many collaborative projects that could arise from this multi-disciplinary meeting. The most useful part was the collated information on all participants’ proposed projects, and the examples on how to prepare an outline of a proposal and a road-map. I hope the collaboration and network will continue.
Dr Wahyu Wulaningsih, The Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (United Kingdom)
The workshop is “Energetic, Exciting and Productive”. The contents and organisation of the workshop are excellent. It provided the knowledge and information that are useful and applicable in my work.
Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai, International University
Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Networking for the betterments of the “aged” and for the “aged to be”.
Dr Harsha Abeykoon, Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand)
A good initiative to bring together multi-disciplinary team from four countries to work together promoting quality of life of ageing population in the developing counties. The most useful and interesting topics includes: Smart housing, Cost-effective monitoring techniques for healthcare, Assistive rehabilitation devices, and work-related musculoskeletal health in ageing workforce.
Dr Swati Chopra, University of Leeds (United Kingdom)
The contents and organisation of the workshop are excellent. It provided the knowledge and information that are useful and applicable in my work. Healthy and Happy Ageing!
Dr Mohd Juzaila Abd Latif, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (Malaysia)
The workshop provided the fruitful network, brain-storming sections and information, especially the opportunities for networking and collaborations with colleagues from the UK and ASEAN countries, and the information about the funding sources from the UK and Vietnam.
Dr Tran Tien Khoi, International University
Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
The workshop has been successfully organised and executed. As an early career researcher, I found this workshop to be very useful for me in the future in expanding my research network and international collaborations. Thank you so much to organisers, coordinators and the funder for making this happen and hopefully more collaborations can be initiated after this workshop, for the benefits for all other participants and the community.
Dr Asnida Abd Wahab, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) (Malaysia)
The following are the typical photos of the workshop from 5 core activities: (1) Scientific & Technological (S/T) presentations, R&D collaborations and Funding Opportunities; (2) Transnational education & research; (3) Publications and editing the books about Ageing Technologies; (4) Mentoring and surgeries for R&D proposals and signing the non-disclosure agreements; and (5) Filed Trips, networking and media events.
Researchers and experts from the UK and ASEAN at the workshop at Le Quy Don Technical University
Prof Raymond Lee, with a keynote presentation about ageing and assistive technologies for low-income ageing populations. The presentation of Prof Raymond Lee is entitled “The global challenge of ageing: how can we help?”
The field trip to Hanoi University of Science and Technology
Ms. Nguyen Thu Giang, a Higher Education Manager (Science and Innovation) of British Council in Vietnam presented about funding opportunities for potential collaborations between ASEAN and UK at the workshop.
Dr Richard Evan from Brunel University at the scientific and technological presentation section
Dr Duc Tang Tran, a local coordinator of a project, and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lac Hong, Vice President of Le Quy Don Technical University chaired the workshop, gave the opening giving the opening speech for the workshop. Prof. Hong showed his hope that all academicians, scientists, researchers and practitioners present at the workshop would be able to share and discuss new findings and applications of their respective study fields.
Workshop participants at the Gala dinner
The Vietnamese traditional music and songs performed at the Gala dinner
Brainstorming and Roundtable discussion sections at the workshop
The Vietnamese foods for the lunch
More information about the Newton Fund – Regional Researcher Links project “Cost-effective solutions & assistive technologies for low-income aging populations”:
– UK coordinator: Dr Chi Hieu Le, University of Greenwich (c.h.le@gre.ac.uk)
– Partner Country Coordinators:
Dr Duc Tang Tran, Le Quy Don Technical University, Vietnam (tangtd@lqdtu.edu.vn)
Dr Trung Luong Huynh, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (luong@ait.ac.th)
About the Newton Fund
The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with 17 active partner countries to support their economic development and social welfare, and to develop their research and innovation capacity for long-term sustainable growth. It has a total UK Government investment of £735 million up until 2021, with matched resources from the partner countries. The Newton Fund is managed by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and delivered through 7 UK delivery partners, which includes UK Research and Innovation (comprising the 7 research councils and Innovate UK), the UK Academies, the British Council and the Met Office. For further information visit the Newton Fund website (www.newtonfund.ac.uk) and follow via Twitter: @NewtonFund
