Abstract of Dr. Valeria Vershinina
ASEAN Centre’s Activities in the COVID-19 Era: ASEAN Week and ASEAN Academic Days Cases
Dr. Valeria Vershinina
ASEAN Centre, MGIMO University, Vernadskogo Prospect 76, Moscow 119454, Russia
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic that has been circulating around the globe is affecting every aspect of our daily life, including such crucial spheres as education and science. With schools and universities closed, lectures and academic conferences transferred into online format, it is essential to discuss how different countries and institutions managed to adapt their research and education activities to new circumstances. This exchange of experience may help the academic community to find new solutions and innovations in online education. The ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University faced same challenges as other think tanks around the globe of how to manage and to adapt quickly its activities to the situation of “new normal” of pandemic. One of the key annual events of the ASEAN Centre in MGIMO University is an “ASEAN Week” – a series of scientific, educational, cultural and educational meetings that aims to disseminate information about the Russia-ASEAN dialogue partnership and Southeast Asia. Before the start of COVID-19 pandemic, the ASEAN Week took place at MGIMO University, yet due to lockdowns and preventive measures, the hosting of this event in 2020 was uncertain. Another project that was designed and carried out by the ASEAN Centre is an open lecture course titled “ASEAN Academic Days”. It brings together a group of prominent academicians, diplomats and experts both from Russia and SEA states to present their views on the current dynamics and trends in political and economic development of Southeast Asia as a whole and of the individual ASEAN member-states. Equally, in the new COVID-19 era the conduction of this education course should have been postponed. The proposed presentation is to focus on how both projects have been implemented with the use of digital technologies and to share preliminary assessments of the outcomes.
Keywords: online education, online educational activities, ASEAN, Russia