Yogyakarta, Thursday, 29 January 2026 – The Department of Civic Education, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Yogyakarta State University (UNY) held an international lecture series themed ‘Building Sustainable Academic Networks in ASEAN Higher Education’. The event was attended by PNU and UNY students as well as FISIP UNY lecturers. The keynote speaker for this lecture session was Dr Ma. Arsenia C. Gomez from Philippine Normal University (PNU), Philippines, and it was moderated by M. Fikri Alvinca, M.Pd. The event took place in the FISIP UNY Hall. In her presentation, Dr Gomez emphasised the importance of building sustainable academic networks in the ASEAN region as a strategy to strengthen the quality of higher education. She highlighted cross-university collaboration for joint research and student exchanges. In addition, she also emphasised the integration of local cultures and values in academic networks to ensure relevance to the Southeast Asian context. The use of digital technology is also very important to expand access to education, accelerate communication between campuses, and support distance learning.

Participants highlighted opportunities for research collaboration, cultural exchange, and strategies for addressing global challenges through higher education. This activity emphasised that higher education in ASEAN can be at the forefront of supporting the achievement of the SDGs, while strengthening the region's position as a centre for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development. The lecture session was interactive and dynamic, featuring a question-and-answer discussion between lecturers, students, and invited guests. The event concluded with a group photo as a symbol of UNY and PNU's commitment to building a sustainable academic network in ASEAN.