University of Helsinki
On 23 April, embassies representing four Southeast Asian countries visited the Faculty of Arts to foster exchange and explore avenues for future collaboration to promote Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki.
From left to right in the picture: Le Thuy Linh (Vietnam), Amelia Putri (Indonesia), Prof. Andrew Logie, H.E. Mrs. Thi Thanh Bình Pham (Vietnam), Dean of Faculty of Arts Pirjo Hiidenmaa, H.E. Mrs. Ratu Silvy Gayatri (Indonesia), H.E. Ms. Chavanart Thangsumphant (Thailand), H.E. Mr. Ariff Ali (Malaysia), Prof. Julie Yu-Wen Chen, and Kosin Phonmang (Thailand)
The delegation was led by H.E. Mrs. Ratu Silvy Gayatri (Ambassador of Indonesia), H.E. Ms. Chavanart Thangsumphant (Ambassador of Thailand), H.E. Mrs. Thi Thanh Bình Pham (Ambassador of Vietnam), and H.E. Mr. Ariff Ali (Chargé d’affaires of Malaysia).
The Faculty of Art’s dean, Professor Pirjo Hiidenmaa, introduced the faculty and led the discussion between the embassies and Asian Studies professors to explore opportunities. Some key points included the following. Southeast Asia is a major part of Asia and the world. It is characterized by rich cultural and linguistic diversity and is an economic powerhouse. There are significant intersections between Southeast Asia and other regions of Asia currently represented at the Faculty, namely South Asia, and East Asia; these intersections are both cultural and geopolitical. Many researchers and students at the University of Helsinki have active interest in Southeast Asia. Finally, the embassies are keen to support exchange and the promotion of Southeast Asia particularly through the ASEAN framework. This visit paved the way for future collaboration that can continue to develop expertise on Southeast Asia at the University of Helsinki and Finland more widely.
Pham Ngoc from the Finnish China Law Center kindly assisted in the event.