Towards sustainable integration: The role of government in facilitating ASEAN integration through education cooperation

Abstract

Economic integration is undoubtedly at the top of the agenda for the ASEAN Community. To pave the way for such integration, serious consideration should also be given to sociocultural aspects of the integration initiatives, especially education cooperation among member states, as such cooperation can act as a stepping stone to a heightened awareness of a regional integration and a growing sense of connectedness to the initiatives. The fact is, however, that ASEAN countries devote little attention to education cooperation compared with other aspects of cooperation. This paper critically examines the development of ASEAN integration by investigating the way in which ASEAN education cooperation arrangements are actualised for the benefit of regional integration. Through the examination, the paper discusses major theories of regional integration, using them to conceptualise ASEAN integration. It also discusses the concepts of government and governance vis-a-vis education, applying them to the ASEAN case.